In the American League Division Series (ALDS), the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees played Game 2, with the Yankees leading the series 1-0 after a tight 6-5 win in Game 1, highlighted by Alex Verdugo's key performance. During Game 2, Royals' Salvador Perez hit a significant home run against Yankees’ pitcher Carlos Rodon, marking his fourth career postseason homer against him. Meanwhile, in another ALDS matchup, the Detroit Tigers faced the Cleveland Guardians, having previously swept the Houston Astros in the Wild Card round. The Guardians won Game 1 decisively with a 7-0 score, putting pressure on Detroit to perform in Game 2, where they rely heavily on ace Tarik Skubal. Both series are crucial as teams aim to advance further in the playoffs, and historical data shows the importance of winning Game 2 for long-term success.