What Is 2017 American League Division Series

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2017 American League Division Series (ALDS) was a best-of-five playoff round in Major League Baseball's postseason, held from October 6–11, 2017, featuring the Houston Astros defeating the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees overcoming the Cleveland Indians to advance to the ALCS.

Key Facts

The 2017 ALDS took place from October 6 to October 11, 2017
Houston Astros defeated Boston Red Sox 3–1 in their ALDS matchup
New York Yankees defeated Cleveland Indians 3–2 in a dramatic series
All five games in the Yankees–Indians series were decided by one run
Astros went on to win the 2017 World Series, their first championship

Overview

The 2017 American League Division Series (ALDS) marked a pivotal stage in Major League Baseball’s postseason, determining which teams would advance to the American League Championship Series (ALCS). Two best-of-five series were contested: the Houston Astros versus the Boston Red Sox, and the New York Yankees versus the Cleveland Indians.

Both series delivered high drama and pivotal performances, setting the tone for one of the most memorable postseasons in recent memory. The outcomes reshaped team legacies and propelled the Astros toward their first World Series title in franchise history.

Houston Astros defeated Boston Red Sox 3–1 in their ALDS matchup, winning Games 1, 2, and 4 to clinch the series and advance.
New York Yankees defeated Cleveland Indians 3–2 in a tightly contested series, overcoming a 2–0 deficit to win three straight games.
Game 1 of the Astros–Red Sox series took place on October 6, 2017, at Fenway Park in Boston, with Houston winning 8–2.
Game 5 of the Yankees–Indians series was played on October 11, 2017, at Progressive Field, with New York winning 5–2 to complete the comeback.
All five games in the Yankees–Indians series were decided by one run, making it the first Division Series in MLB history with such narrow margins.

How It Works

The American League Division Series is a best-of-five format used to determine which two teams advance from the Wild Card round to the ALCS. The matchups are based on regular-season records and seeding, with the top two division winners receiving byes.

Best-of-Five Format: Each series consists of up to five games, with the first team to win three games advancing. This format began in 1995 after MLB expanded to three divisions per league.
Home-Field Advantage: The team with the better regular-season record hosts Games 1, 2, and 5 under the 2-2-1 format. In 2017, Boston and Cleveland held this advantage initially.
Wild Card Winner: The Yankees qualified as the AL Wild Card team after defeating the Minnesota Twins 8–4 in the Wild Card Game on October 3, 2017.
Seeding Rules: The top two division winners by record face the Wild Card winner and the third division winner, unless they are in the same division, which triggers reseeding.
2017 ALDS Matchups: The Astros (AL West champions, 101–61) faced the Red Sox (AL East champions, 93–69), while the Yankees (Wild Card, 91–71) played the Indians (AL Central champions, 102–60).
Game Duration: ALDS games in 2017 averaged 3 hours and 12 minutes in length, with Game 4 of Astros–Red Sox lasting 4 hours and 10 minutes due to extra innings.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares key statistics and outcomes from the two 2017 ALDS matchups:

Team	Regular-Season Record	ALDS Result	Games Played	Key Stat
Houston Astros	101–61	Won 3–1	4	Hit 10 home runs in the series, led by José Altuve and Carlos Correa
Boston Red Sox	93–69	Lost 1–3	4	David Price started Game 2 but allowed 4 runs in 5 innings
New York Yankees	91–71	Won 3–2	5	Chad Green saved Game 5, becoming the first rookie reliever to do so in a winner-take-all ALDS game
Cleveland Indians	102–60	Lost 2–3	5	Lost Game 3 on a walk-off single by Aaron Judge, ending their 22-game home win streak
Combined Series	N/A	4 wins by home team	9	8 of 9 games decided by 2 runs or fewer, highlighting the competitiveness

The 2017 ALDS was notable for its narrow margins and dramatic finishes. The Yankees’ comeback from a 0–2 deficit against the Indians was only the sixth such reversal in MLB postseason history, underscoring the unpredictability of playoff baseball.

Why It Matters

The 2017 ALDS had lasting implications for team trajectories, player legacies, and fan expectations across the American League. It served as a launching pad for the Astros’ first World Series title and reestablished the Yankees as contenders.

Houston Astros advanced to face Yankees in ALCS, winning the series 4–3 before defeating the Dodgers in seven games to win the World Series.
Yankees’ comeback marked their first series win since 2012, revitalizing a young core featuring Aaron Judge and Gary Sánchez.
Cleveland’s loss ended a franchise-record 102-win season prematurely, leading to questions about postseason performance under pressure.
Red Sox’ early exit prompted management to reevaluate their pitching strategy, culminating in a World Series win the following year.
José Altuve’s performance in the ALDS (3 HRs, 6 RBIs) solidified his status as an MVP candidate and franchise cornerstone.
Postseason parity was highlighted by the fact that neither top seed (Indians nor Astros) had home-field advantage in the ALCS, showing how quickly momentum can shift.

The 2017 ALDS remains a benchmark for competitive balance and dramatic storytelling in baseball, blending individual brilliance with team resilience in high-pressure situations.