2019 Royal Rumble Preview - Every Royal Rumble Match Ranked

The Royal Rumble is Sunday; as I do for each of the big 4 WWE supercards every year, here's a preview.

Universal Title: Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Finn Bálor
WWE Title: Daniel Bryan (c) vs. AJ Styles
Smackdown Women's Title: Asuka (c) vs. Becky Lynch
RAW Women's Title: Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Sasha Banks
Smackdown Tag Titles: The Bar (Cesaro and Sheamus) (c) vs. The Miz and Shane McMahon

1. So, Brock's got the RAW strap; it's his second run, he squashed Strowman in that Saudi Arabia debacle in November after Reigns had to vacate the belt with his leukemia returning.  They were building to a Strowman rematch - but just a couple weeks ago backed out of it and moved Balor into this spot.  That's a dramatic upgrade for potential match quality; Brock/Bryan had a very good match at Survivor Series that could be the model here.  Brock will keep this belt and I'm optimistic we'll get a good match out of this.

-that's what happened, 3 1/2 stars, Brock keeps in a sub 10 minute sprint.

2. Danielson's the lineal WWF Champion; he turned heel on AJ last November and took the belt.  Danielson's doing a eco-lefty gimmick which..is working, I guess...in that people aren't cheering for him and he's selling it as hard as he can.  I'm not the target audience to boo a man who says rapacious billionaires like Vince McMahon are destroying the planet.  But he's an all time great performer and is interesting despite taking Juice Robinson's old NXT shtick.  He and AJ have had a strong in-ring program and I'm hugely optimistic about this one.  I don't know that I have a strong sense of how they book this one; I don't think they can carry this program to Mania - I'll say Danielson keeps the belt and we'll see who gets elevated to take him on next (Mustafa Ali?  Is that a Wrestlemania match?  Lot of heels on Smackdown - Orton/Joe/Nakamura/Danielson)

-methodical, screwjob finish, Danielson keeps, 3 1/4 stars

3. Asuka took Becky's title in a three way in December; this should be good, both are good workers; I think we're building to a Becky/Charlotte/Rhonda WM main event; so that would probably mean a Becky loss here (maybe Charlotte interference) and then they do the Bret/Lex Rumble finish.

-best match on the show proper (I gave the same rating to the Junior pre-show match but preferred it) Asuka taps her out, 3 3/4 stars

4. Rousey's a big star and, while green, is pretty good in the ring. She took the RAW belt at Summer Slam over Alexa and will keep it here over Sasha- and this should also be a good match.

-as expected, Ronda keeps in a 3 1/2 star match

5. The Smackdown tag belts have only been around since 2016, as I say during each of these previews -- there are no lineal WWF tag champs, which would be infuriating if WWF programming facilitated any interest in that kind of thing.  Sheamus and Cesaro have held the titles since taking them from the New Day in October - they're good (Cesaro's better than that) but, like most of the main roster, are pretty stale (if All Elite is able to start a legitimate wrestling war it's the best thing that could happen for main roster WWE programming). I have virtually no time for the Miz and absolutely no time for Shane - they've hot shotted them into a tag team and I assume they win the belts here in an okay match.

-as expected, a 2 ish star title switch

So - that's pretty good - and when you add the two Rumble matches (does Reigns return and win? Is it a lay-up for Strowman?) which are good even when they aren't -- and when you add the two pre-show matches (Nakamura v. Rusev for the US Title and a 4 way for the junior title which includes Kenta) that should range from good to very, very good - I mean, it's a show to look forward to.

-Becky won the women's Rumble; all Rumble matches are good...this was the lowest end of good

-Rollins won the men's Rumble, it was fine

-Murphy kept the in the best match of the night, the 4 way on the pre-show
-Nakamura regained the US Title, screwjob finish, it was just a match
-they threw together a tag match you can avoid

Here's every match in Royal Rumble history ranked.  Ratings are mine, times are approximate, it's possible I've missed something. If AJ/Bryan doesn't crack the all time top 10, that's a disappointment.

1.  1       '03 WWF Title: Kurt Angle d. Chris Benoit 20 min 5
   2     '15 WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. Seth Rollins/John Cena 23 min 4 1/2

   3.       ’00 WWF Title HHH d. Cactus Jack 27 min 4 ¼
   4  ’01 IC Ladder: Chris Jericho d. Chris Benoit 19 min 4 ¼
   5. '17 WWF Title: John Cena d. AJ Styles 24 min 4 1/4
   6. '16 IC Falls Count Anywhere: Dean Ambrose d. Kevin Owens 21:30 4 1/4 
   7  ’04 Rumble Match: (Chris Benoit) 61:30 4
   8 ’92 WWF Title: Rumble Match (Ric Flair) 62 min 4
   9. '18 Rumble Match (Shinsuke Nakamura) 65:30 4 min
   10 '14 Bray Wyatt d. Daniel Bryan 22 min 4
   11. '17 RAW Title: Kevin Owens d. Roman Reigns 23 min 4
   12 ’91 Rockers d. Orient Express 19 min 4
   13 ’95 WWF Title: Diesel draw Bret Hart 27 min 4
   
 ’ 14. '10 Rumble Match (Edge) 49:30 3 ¾

      15.      '00 Tables Hardys d. Dudleys 10:30 3 ¾
   16.  ’94 Tags: Quebecers d. Bret/Owen 16:30 3 ¾
   17. ’04 WWF Title: HHH draw HBK 22:30 3 ¾

   18   '11 World: Edge d. Dolph Ziggler 20:30 3 ½  
   19  ’02 WWF Title: Chris Jericho d. Rock 19 min 3 1/2 
   20 ’98 WWF Title: Casket Match: Shawn Michaels d. Undertaker 22 min 3 ½
   21 ’07 WWF Title: Last Man Standing: John Cena d. Umaga 22:30 3 ½
   22 ’99 WWF Title: I Quit Match: Rock d. Mankind 22 min 3 ½
   23 ’93 WWF Title: Bret Hart d. Razor Ramon 18 min 3 ½
   24 ’11 Rumble Match (Alberto del Rio) 69 min 3 1/2 
   25 ’90 Rumble Match (Hulk Hogan) 59 min 3 ½
   26 ’97 Rumble Match(Steve Austin) 50:30 3 ½
   27 '18 Women's Rumble (Asuka) 59 min 3 1/2
   28. '17 Cruiser Title: Neville d. Rich Swann 13 min 3 1/2
   29. '18 WWF Title: AJ Styles d. Owens/Zayn 16 min 3 1/2

   30 ’01 WWF Title: Kurt Angle d. HHH 24:30 3 ¼
   31 ’13 WWF Title: Rock d. CM Punk 23:30 3 ¼  
   32 ’93 IC Shawn Michaels d. Marty Jannetty 14:30 3 ¼
   33 ’05 Edge d. Shawn Michaels 18:30 3 ¼
   34. '18 Smackdown Tags: Usos d. Gable/Benjamin 14 min 3 1/4
   35 ’09 WWF Title: Edge d. Jeff Hardy 19:30 3 ¼

   36  '16 WWF Title Rumble Match (HHH) 61:30 3 1/4
   37 ’12 Rumble Match (Sheamus) 55 min 3 ¼
   38 ’05 Rumble Match (Batista) 51:30 3 ¼
   39 ’03 Rumble Match(Brock Lesnar) 53:30 3 ¼
   40 ’00 Rumble Match(Rock) 52 min 3 ¼
   41 ’01 Rumble Match(Steve Austin) 62 min 3 ¼
   42 ’06 Rumble Match (Rey Mysterio) 62 min 3 ¼
   43 ’07 Rumble Match (Undertaker) 56:30 3 ¼     
   44 ’89 Rumble Match(John Studd) 64 min 3 ¼
   45 ’98 Rumble Match (Steve Austin) 55:30 3 ¼
   46 ’08 Rumble Match (John Cena) 51:30 3 ¼
   47 '14 WWF Title: Randy Orton d. John Cena 21 min 3 1/4 
   48 ’10 World: Undertaker d. Rey Mysterio 11 min 3 ¼
   49 ’11 WWF: Miz d. Randy Orton 20 min 3 ¼  
   50 ’05 World: HHH d. Randy Orton 21:30 3 ¼
   51 ’07 Hardys d. MNM 15:30 3 ¼

   52 ’12 WWF Title: CM Punk d. Dolph Ziggler 14 min 3

   53 ’01 Tags: Dudleys d. Edge/Christian 10 min 3
   54 ’08 WWF Title: Randy Orton d. Jeff Hardy 14 min 3
   55 ’92 Owen/Anvil d. Orient Express 17 min 3
   56 ’95 Tags: Bob Holly/123 Kid d. Tatanka/Bam Bam Bigelow 15:30 3
   57 ’02 Rumble Match(HHH) 69:30 3
   58 ’94 Rumble Match: (Bret/Lex) 55 min 3
   59 ’93 Rumble Match: (Yokozuna) 66:30 3
   60 ’91 Rumble Match (Hulk Hogan) 65 min 3
   61 ’96 Rumble Match(Shawn Michaels) 59 min 3
   62 ’99 Rumble Match (Vince McMahon) 56:30 3
   63 ’95 Rumble Match (Shawn Michaels) 39 min 3
   64 ’09 Rumble Match (Randy Orton) 58:30 3
   65 '14 Rumble Match (Batista) 55 min 3
   66 ’13 Rumble Match (John Cena) 55 min 3
   67 '15 Rumble Match (Reigns) 59 min 3
   68 '17 Rumble Match (Orton) 3
   69 ’88 Rumble Match (Jim Duggan) 33:30 3 
   70 ’02 IC: William Regal d. Edge 10 min 3
   71 ’04 Eddy Guerrero d. Chavo Guerrero 8 min 3
   72 ’13 World: Last Man Standing: Alberto del Rio d. Big Show 17 min 3
   73 ’09 ECW: Jack Swagger d. Matt Hardy 10:30 3
   74 ’96 Tags: Smoking Gunns d. Bodydonnas 11 min 3
   75 ’03 Tags: Dudleys d. Regal/Storm 7:30 3

   76 '16 US: Kalisto d. Del Rio 11:30 3
   77. '17: Women's Title: Charlotte d. Bayley 13 min 3
   78 ’97 WWF Title: Shawn Michaels d. Sid 14 min 3
   79 ’89 Haku d. Harley Race 9 min 3
   80 ’97 IC: HHH d. Goldust 17 min 3

   
   81 ’06 Jr.: Gregory Helms d. Kash, Funaki, Noble, Nunzio, London 7:30
   82 ’88 Jumping Bomb Angels d. Glamour Girls 14 min
   83 ’89 Hart Foundation/Duggan d. Dino Bravo/Rougeaus 16 min
   84 ’96 WWF Title: Undertaker d. Bret Hart 29 min
   85 ’08 World: Edge d. Rey Mysterio 12:30
   86 ’88 Ricky Steamboat d. Rick Rude 17 min
   87 ’00 Taz d. Kurt Angle 3 min
   88 ’02 Ric Flair d. Vince McMahon 15 min
   89 ’98 IC Rock d. Shamrock 11 min
   90 ’05 WWF Title: JBL d. Big Show/Kurt Angle 12 min
   91 ’06 WWF Title: John Cena d. Edge 14
   92 ’97 Vader d. Undertaker 13 min
   93 ’13 Tags: Hell No d. Rhodes Scholars 9:30 
   94 ’93 Steiners d. Beverlys 10:30 
   95. '18 RAW Tags: Sheamus/Cesaro d. Rollins/Jordan 13 min.
   96 ’07 World: Batista d. Ken Kennedy 10:30
   97 ’90 Ronny Garvin d. Greg Valentine 17 min

   98 '16 Women: Charlotte d. Becky 11:30
   99 ’10 ECW: Christian d. Ezekial Jackson 12 min
   100 ’88 Islanders d. Young Stallions 14 min
   101 ’02 Tags: Taz/Spike Dudley d. Dudleys 5 min

   102  '16 Tags: New Day d. Usos 11 min
   103 ’12 World: Cage: Daniel Bryan d. Big Show/Mark Henry
   104 ’00 IC: Chris Jericho d. Chyna d. Bob Holly 7:30
   105 ’08 JBL d. Chris Jericho 9:30
   106 ’10 US: Miz d. MVP 7:30 
   107 ’97 Garza/Aguayo/Canek d. Estrada/Metal/.Guerrera 11 min
   108 ’04 WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. Bob Holly 6:30
   109 '18 Universal Title: Lesnar d. Kane/Strowman 11 min
   110 '15 Tags: Usos d. Miz/Mizdow 9:30
   111 ’03 Brock Lesnar d. Big Show 6 min
   112 Euro: '99 Sean Waltman d. Gangrel 6 min
   113 ’98 Vader d. Goldust 8 min
   114 ’95 IC Jeff Jarrett d. Razor Ramon 18 min
   115 ’99 IC: Ken Shamrock d. Billy Gunn 14:30
   116 ’04 Jr. Rey Mysterio d. Jamie Noble 3:30
   117  ’91 Boss Man d. Barbarian 14 min
   118 '14 Brock Lesnar d. Big Show 2 min
   119’92 IC: Roddy Piper d. Mountie 5:30
   120 ’08 Ric Flair d. MVP 8 min
   121 ’98 Mini/Mosaic/Nova d. Battalion/Torito/Tarantula 8 min
   122 ’97 Ahmed Johnson d. Farooq 9 min
   123 ’96 Ahmed Johnson d. Jeff Jarrett 6:30
   124 ’10 WWF: Sheamus d. Randy Orton 12:30
   125 ’07 ECW: Bobby Lashley d. Test 7:30
   126 ’04 Tags: Evolution d. Dudleys 4:30
   127 ’03 World Title: Scott Steiner d. HHH 18:30
   128 ’09 World John Cena d. JBL 15:30
   129 ’99 Boss Man d. Road Dogg 12 min
   130 ’90 Hacksaw Duggan d. Big Boss Man 10:30
   131  ’91 Ted DiBiase/Virgil d. Dusty/Dustin 10 min
   132 ’00 Tags: New Age Outlaws d. Acolytes 2:30
   133 ’94 Tatanka d. Bam Bam Bigelow 8
   134  ’94 IC: Razor Ramon d. IRS 11:30
   135 ’96 IC: Goldust d. Razor 14:30
   136 ’89 Rockin Robin d. Judy Martin 6:30
   137 ’11 Women: Eve d. Natalya/Layla/Michelle McCool 5 min
   138 '15 Bellas d. Page/Natty 8 min
   139 ’12 Bellas/Beth/Natalya d. Kelly/Eve/Alicia/Tamina 5:30
   140 ’02 Women: Trish d. Jazz 4 min
   141 ’09 Women: Melina d. Beth Phoenix 6:30
   142 ’92 Tags: Natural Disasters d. LOD 9:30
   143 ’98 Tags: LOD d. New Age Outlaws 8 min
   144 ’91 Mountie d. Koko 9
   145 ’05 Casket: Undertaker d. Heidenreich 13:30
   146 ’91 WWF Title: Sgt. Slaughter d. Ultimate Warrior 12:30
   147 ’06 World: Kurt Angle d. Mark Henry 9:30
   148  ’93 Bam Bam Bigelow d. Big Boss Man 10 min
   149 ’95 Undertaker d. IRS 12:30
   150 '15 Ascension d. New Age Outlaws 5:30
   151 ’01 Women: Ivory d. Chyna 3:30
   152 ’99 Women: Sable d. Luna 4:30
   153 ’12 Brodus Clay d. Drew McIntyre 1 min
   154  ’06 Boogeyman d. JBL 2 min
   155  ’90 Bushwackers d. Rougeaus 13:30
   156 ’12 John Cena draw Kane 11
   157  ’90 Brutus Beefcake draw Lanny Poffo 11 min
   158  ’92 Beverlys d. Bushwackers 15 min
   159  ’10 Women: Mickie James d. Michelle McCool :30
   160 ’03 Torrie Wilson d. Dawn Marie 3:30
   161 ’06 Women: Mickey James d. Ashley 7:30
      162. '94 WWF Title: Yokozuna d. Undertaker 14:30

The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (NL, Round of 32/Sweet 16 Group 5)

last group

One spot left in the National League elite 8 - the winner of this group will face the 1944 St Louis Cardinals.

5. 1942 Cardinals (World Champions-Billy Southworth)

v.

92. 1957 Braves (World Champions-Fred Haney)

Catcher: Cooper (27) v. Crandall (27)  Winner: StL-Cooper

First Base: Hopp (25) v. Torre (25) Winner: Mil-Torre

Second Base: Brown (32) v. Schoendienst (34) Winner: Mil-Schoendienst

Shortstop: Marion (25) v. Logan (31) Winner: StL-Marion

Third Base: Kurowski (24) v. Mathews (25)Winner: Mil-Mathews

Left Field: Musial (21) v. Covington (25) Winner: Stl-Musial

Center Field: Moore (30) v. Bruton (31)  Winner: StL-Moore

Right Field: Slaughter (26) v. Aaron (23)  Winner: Mil-Aaron

SP1: Cooper (29) v. Spahn (36)  Winner: StL-Cooper

SP2: Beazley (24) v. Burdette (30)  Winner: StL-Beazley

SP3: Lanier (26) v. Buhl (28) Winner: StL-Lanier

Closer: Gumbert (32) v. McMahon (27)  Winner: StL-Gumbert

Team Offense: Mil

Team Pitching: StL

Cards 10 Braves 6 - wooosh, St Louis steams into the next round.

The 1942 St Louis Cardinals - one of the 16 greatest teams in National League history.

12. 1901 Pirates (1st in NL-no playoffs-Fred Clarke)

v.

21. 1974 Dodgers (lost WS-Walter Alston)

Catcher: Zimmer (40) v. Yeager (25) Winner: LAD-Yeager

First Base: Bransfield (26) v. Garvey (25)Winner: LAD-Garvey

Second Base: Ritchey (27) v. Lopes (29)Winner: Pit-Ritchey

Shortstop: Wagner (27) v. Russell (25) Winner: Pit-Wagner

Third Base: Leach (23) v. Cey (26)Winner: LAD-Cey

Left Field: Clarke (28) v. Buckner (24) Winner: Pit-Clarke

Center Field: Beaumont (24) v. Wynn (32) Winner: LAD-Wynn

Right Field: Davis (26) v. Crawford (27) Winner: Push

SP1: Phillippe (29) v. Messersmith (28)Winner: LAD-Messersmith

SP2: Chesbro (27) v.  Sutton (29) Winner: Pit-Chesbro

SP3: Tannehill (26) v. Rau (25)Winner: Pit-Tannehill

Closer:  Wiltse (29) v. Marshall (31)Winner: LAD-Marshall

Team Offense: LAD

Team Pitching: LAD

Dodgers 10 Pirates 5 - Tight headed to the totals - but LA takes them both and moves into the sweet 16.

The 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers - one of the 16 greatest teams in National League history.

5. 1942 Cardinals (World Champions-Billy Southworth)

v.

21. 1974 Dodgers (lost WS-Walter Alston)

Catcher: Cooper (27) v. Yeager (25)  Winner: StL-Cooper

First Base: Hopp (25) v. Garvey (25) Winner: LAD-Garvey

Second Base: Brown (32) v. Lopes (29) Winner: LAD-Lopes

Shortstop: Marion (25) v. Russell (25) Winner: StL-Marion

Third Base: Kurowski (24) v. Cey (26)Winner: LAD-Cey

Left Field: Musial (21) v. Buckner (24) Winner: Stl-Musial

Center Field: Moore (30) v. Wynn (32)  Winner: LAD-Wynn

Right Field: Slaughter (26) v. Crawford (27)   Winner: StL-Slaughter

SP1: Cooper (29) v. Messersmith (28)  Winner: StL-Cooper

SP2: Beazley (24) v. Sutton (29) Winner: StL-Beazley

SP3: Lanier (26) v. Rau (25) Winner: StL-Lanier

Closer: Gumbert (32) v. Marshall (31) Winner: LAD-Marshall

Team Offense: LAD

Team Pitching: StL

StL 9 LAD 7 - the Cards dominate the pitching matchups/totals and move into the Elite 8

The 1942 St Louis Cardinals - one of the greatest 8 teams in National League history.

Previewing the American League Elite 8 - the 8 Greatest Teams in AL History

last group

Three days until The American League Elite 8.  Here are the 4 matchups.

1939 New York Yankees-Joe McCarthy
v.
1998 New York Yankees-Joe Torre

2017 Houston Astros-AJ Hinch
v.
1934 Detroit Tigers-Mickey Cochrane

1927 New York Yankees-Miller Huggins
v. 
1971 Baltimore Orioles-Earl Weaver

1929 Philadelphia A's-Connie Mack
v.
1969 Baltimore Orioles-Earl Weaver

The 1939 New York Yankees went 106-45, won the AL by 17 games and then swept the Reds in the World Series.  It was the 4th straight World Championship for New York. They led the league in both runs scored and runs allowed, outscoring opponents by 411 runs.  This was Gehrig's last season; his #4 became the first number ever retired in MLB. 

The 1998 New York Yankees went 114-48, won the AL East by 22 games, they swept the Rangers in the ALDS, beat the Indians 4-2 in the ALCS, and then swept the Padres in the World Series. That's a total of 125 wins, most in MLB history. This was the first of 3 straight World Championships for the Yankees.

The 2017 Houston Astros went 101-61, won the AL West by 21 games, they beat the Red Sox 3-1 in the ALDS, beat the Yankees 4-3 in the ALCS, and then beat the Dodgers 4-3 to win the World Series, the first World Championship in Astros history.  They had the best slugging percentage and the fewest strikeouts in MLB.  

The 1934 Detroit Tigers went 101-53, won the American League by 7 games...and then lost the World Series to St Louis 4-3 (Ducky Medwick slid hard into Marv Owen at third in game 7, Tigers fans threw garbage at Medwick when he came out to play LF in the bottom of the inning and he was removed from the game for his own protection). This was Mickey Cochrane's first season as a Tiger (he was player/manager) and became the first catcher named AL MVP.  Detroit averaged over 7 runs/game in August. 

The 1927 New York Yankees went 110-44, won the American League by 19 games, and then swept the Pirates in the World Series. The Yankees went wire-to-wire, never falling out of first place. Babe Ruth broke the single season home run record, hitting 60.  Ruth hit more homers than 3/4 of the teams in MLB in '27. They came back the next year and swept the Series again (the '98-'99 Yankees would also do that). 

The 1971 Baltimore Orioles (defending World Champions) went 101-57, won the AL East by a dozen games, swept Oakland in the ALCS...and then lost the World Series to the Pirates 4-3.  They're one of only two clubs in MLB history with four 20 game winning pitchers.  

The 1929 Philadelphia A's went 104-46, won the American League by 18 games, the beat the Cubs 4-1 in the World Series. The A's finished second to that monster Yankee club in both '27 and '28 before breaking through here. The Cubs struck out 50 times in that 5 game World Series.  

The 1969 Baltimore Orioles went 109-53, won the AL East (this was the first season for divisions) by 19 games, swept the Twins in the first ever ALCS..and then lost the World Series to the underdog Mets 4-1. 

So - there you have it.  The 8 greatest teams in American League history.  The next time we see them, we'll slice them in half.  

Athlete of the Month, January 2019

last year

James Harden.

Runners-up: Trevor Lawrence, Ndamukong Suh, Tom Brady

One month down, 11 to go in the Race for the 2019 Athlete of the Year.

January-James Harden

The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (AL, Round of 32/Sweet 16 Group 5)

last group

This is it.  1 spot left in the American League Elite 8.  Winner takes on the 2017 Houston Astros

5. 2018 Astros (lost ALCS-AJ Hinch)

v.

37. 1938 Yankees (World Champions-Joe McCarthy)

Catcher: Stassi (27) v. Dickey (31) Winner: NYY-Dickey

First Base: Gurriel (34) v. Gehrig (35) Winner: NYY-Gehrig

Second Base: Altuve (28) v. Gordon (23)  Winner: Astros-Altuve

Shortstop: Correa (23) v. Crosetti (27)  Winner: NYY-Crosetti

Third Base: Bregman (24) v. Rolfe (29) Winner: Astros-Bregman

Left Field: Gonzalez (29) v. Selkirk (30)  Winner: Astros-Gonzalez

Center Field: Marisnick (27) v. DiMaggio (23) Winner: NYY-DiMaggio

Right Field: Reddick (31) v. Henrich (25)Winner: NYY-Henrich

DH: Gattis (31) v. Hoag (30) Winner: Hou-Gattis

SP1: Verlander (35) v.  Ruffing (33)  Winner: Hou-Verlander

SP2: Keuchel (30) v. Gomez (29)Winner: NYY-Gomez

SP3: Cole (27) v. Pearson (29)Winner: Hou-Cole

Closer: Rondon (30) v. Murphy (29) Winner: Hou-Rondon

Team Offense: NYY

Team Pitching: Astros

Astros 9 Yankees 8 - Yankees offense against Astros pitching - super, super close; but the Astros just do edge out the Bombers to move into the sweet 16.

The 2018 Houston Astros - one of the 16 greatest teams in American League history.

117. 1980 Orioles (2nd in AL East-no playoffs-Earl Weaver)

v.

44.  1934 Tigers (lost WS-Mickey Cochrane)

Catcher: Dempsey (30) v. Cochrane (31) Winner: Tigers-Cochrane

First Base: Murray (24) v. Greenberg (23)` Winner: Tigers-Greenberg

Second Base: Dauer (27) v. Gehringer (31) Winner: Tigers-Gehringer

Shortstop: Belanger (36) v. Rogell (28) Winner: Tigers-Rogell

Third Base: DeCinces (29) v. Owen (28) Winner: Orioles-DeCinces

Left Field: Lowenstein (33) v. Goslin (33)  Winner: Tigers-Goslin

Center Field: Bumbry (33) v. White (25) Winner: Orioles-Bumbry

Right Field: Singleton (33) v. Fox (25) Winner: Orioles-Singleton

DH: Crowley (33) v.  Walker (26) Winner: Push

SP1: McGregor (26) v. Bridges (27) Winner: Tigers-Bridges

SP2: Flanagan (28) v. Rowe (24) Winner: Tigers-Rowe

SP3: Stone (32) v. Marberry (35)  Winner: Orioles-Stone

Closer: Stoddard (27) v. Auker (23)  Winner: Tigers-Auker

Team Offense: Tigers

Team Pitching: Push

Tigers 10 Orioles 4 - easy pickings for Detroit, the Tigers move into the sweet 16.

The 1934 Detroit Tigers -one of the 16 greatest teams in American League history.

5. 2018 Astros (lost ALCS-AJ Hinch)
v.
44.  1934 Tigers (lost WS-Mickey Cochrane)

Catcher: Stassi (27)  v. Cochrane (31) Winner: Tigers-Cochrane

First Base: Gurriel (34) v. Greenberg (23)` Winner: Tigers-Greenberg

Second Base: Altuve (28)  v. Gehringer (31) Winner: Tigers-Gehringer

Shortstop: Correa (23) v. Rogell (28) Winner: Tigers-Rogell

Third Base: Bregman (24) v. Owen (28) Winner: Astros-Bregman

Left Field: Gonzalez (29) v. Goslin (33)  Winner: Tigers-Goslin

Center Field: Marisnick (27) v. White (25) Winner: Tigers-White

Right Field: Reddick (31)  v. Fox (25) Winner: Astros-Reddick

DH: Gattis (31)v.  Walker (26) Winner: Tigers-Walker

SP1: Verlander (35) v. Bridges (27) Winner: Astros-Verlander

SP2: Keuchel (30) v. Rowe (24) Winner: Tigers-Rowe

SP3: Cole (27) v. Marberry (35)  Winner: Astros-Cole

Closer: Rondon (30) v. Auker (23)  Winner: Tigers-Auker

Team Offense: Tigers

Team Pitching: Astros

Tigers 11 Astros 6 - Detroit's offensive advantage just swarms the Astros and the Tigers claim the last spot in the Elite 8.

The 1934 Detroit Tigers - one of the 8 greatest teams in American League history.

Tomorrow - we break down the Elite 8 matchups - the tournament reaches the very best teams in AL history.