I bet you have another interesting factoid prepared to reveal, don't you?

I bet you have another interesting factoid prepared to reveal, don't you?

How did you ever know! As the crack staff at ESPN Stats & Information pointed out, since the league championship series became a best-of-seven affair in 1985, eight teams have swept the round. Their record in the World Series: 1-7. The winner was the 1995 Braves -- and of course that was the only year out of 14 consecutive division titles that they won the championship. The losers: '88 A's, '90 A's, '06 Tigers, '07 Rockies, '12 Tigers, '14 Royals, '15 Mets.

So what is Washington rooting for?

Utter chaos in the ALCS. A seven-game series. Extra-inning games. Offense, offense and more offense. For whichever pitching staff emerges victorious to enter gassed.

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A Yankees win on Thursday in Game 4 would be a nice start. The chain of events that sets into motion can be a little complicated, so let's tease out the possibilities:

Yankees win Game 4, win Game 5: Panic time for the Astros. With their season on the line, they likely move up Cole to start Game 6 on three days' rest to save their season.

Yankees win Game 4, lose Game 5: The Astros head back to Houston with a 3-2 lead. Game 6 almost certainly would be a bullpen game. If they lose it, they could throw Cole on full rest in Game 7.

Yankees win Game 4, win Game 5, lose Game 6: Zack Greinke would be on two days' rest, Verlander on one and Cole on none. Which would mean: bullpen game for the Astros to save their season.

Yankees win Game 4, lose Game 5, win Game 6: Assuming manager AJ Hinch goes with his bullpen for Game 6, this leaves Cole for Game 7. For the Nationals, it doesn't matter if Cole goes in 6 or 7. Either situation would keep him out of the World Series on full rest until Game 3. If Cole goes in Game 6 of the ALCS, Hinch could bring him back on short rest again for Game 2 of the World Series, then give him five days' rest before Game 6.

Worth noting: Cole never has started on short rest.

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