American League

Last August, barely a month removed from being named All-Star Game MVP after he hit a two-run home in the American League’s victory, Duran was suspended two games for shouting a homophobic slur at a fan who was heckling him.

Timely offense, epitomized by Teoscar Hernández’s go-ahead, three-run home run in the fifth inning off reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, and Shohei Ohtani’s solo blast in the seventh for a key insurance run.

Only two years ago, the American League Central was crowned the worst division in MLB history.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was once the author of his own legendary October moment, when his stolen base in Game 4 of the 2004 American League Championship Series helped lead the Boston Red Sox to a historic comeback from a three-games-to-none deficit.

He got the tickets, but the Angels blew a two-game lead in the American League Championship Series.