Not only do the Toronto Blue Jays have to contend with the Texas Rangers’ strong offence, the records books appear stacked against them in an attempt to erase a two-game deficit and win their American League Divisional Series.
After losing the first two games of the series at home, the Jays won two-straight in Texas to set up a fifth and final game in Toronto.
But as they look for a series-ending win Wednesday afternoon, the Jays face a daunting historical record that appears stacked against teams that start a series losing back-to-back home games.
In the Major League Baseball post-season history of five-game series, 29 teams have lost their opening two games at home. Among them, only two – one each from the American and National League - have been able to rally and win their respective series.
Despite the track record, the Blue Jays’ management and players have stayed positive.
"The fact we're going back is everything," Toronto manager John Gibbons said after Game 4. "We've been good at home all year ... That's where we're best."
Kevin Pillar, who hit his first playoff homerun against the Rangers in Game 4 and leads all players in the series with seven hits over four games, echoed his manager.
"We said from the very beginning, it’s about winning three games in a series. It doesn’t matter how you do it, what order you do it in but it's the first of three. We're still here. We still have an opportunity to make it happen," he told reporters on Tuesday.
Chance to join elite company
If the Jays are able to buck the historical losing trend, it could pay to look at the example of the two other teams that did it before.
In 2001, the New York Yankees were facing the possibility of being swept by the Oakland Athletics.
The Yankees finished that season with a similar record to the 2015 Blue Jays, clinching top spot in the AL East.
Up against the Wild Card winners from Oakland, they cracked and lost the opening two games by a combined seven runs to three.
But the Yankees won a crucial game three, then repeated the performance in games four and five. In rallying, they became the first team to ever come back from two games down in an ALDS series and win.
Derek Jeter solidified his reputation as one of the top baseball players in the league with his performance in the deciding game.
"Whenever they need a big play, he's there to make it. Whenever they need a big hit, he gets it," Oakland manager Art Howe later said about Jeter.
Despite the feel good aspect – depending on who you ask – of the opening series rally, the Yankees lost in the World Series to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In 2012, the San Francisco Giants overcame similar predicament in their series against the Cincinnati Reds.
After a close loss, followed shortly by a blowout one, the Giants were able to jumpstart their lacklustre offence.
They went on to win Games 3 and 4, and were able to hang on and edge the Reds 6-4 in Cincinnati.
Going a step farther, the Giants were able to win the club's seventh World Series.
In the aftermath of the team's World Series win, Marco Scutaro, an infielder for the Giants, pinpointed Game 5 against Cincinnati as a turning point for the team.
Deja-vu
As for the Jays' opponents, they've been down this path before.
In 2010, the Rangers had a comfortable two game advantage over the Tampa Bay Rays. However, when the series headed to Texas, the Rangers promptly lost both games.
Texas was able to redeem itself with a 5-1 win in Tampa Bay in Game 5 before their season ended in the World Series. Playing for Tampa Bay that day? A young David Price.
With files from the Associated Press and The Canadian Press
