MLB
How many teams have come back from a 1-3 deficit in the World Series? Dodgers vs Yankees Game 5
New Yorkers are still alive against Los Angeles, managing to avoid a World Series sweep.
The New York Yankees are clinging to their World Series dream, securing an 11-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 to avoid a sweep. They’ll need to show their very best if they hope for an epic comeback; if the Dodgers win just one more game, they’ll be crowned champions and take home the Commissioner’s Trophy.
Currently, the Series stands at 1-3 in favour of the Dodgers, so the Yankees must keep their composure. It’s worth noting that no team in MLB history has come back from a 0-3 deficit in a World Series, leaving the Bronx Bombers on the ropes.
However, there is one precedent of a team overcoming a 0-3 deficit in a Championship Series, in the 2004 American League, where the Boston Red Sox defeated the Yankees in seven games after dropping Games 1 and 2 at home.
The teams turning around a World Series 1-3 deficit
With the current World Series situation at 1-3, here are the cases of teams that have come back from such a deficit, giving the Yankees some hope:
- The most recent comeback from 1-3 was in 2016, when the Chicago Cubs defeated Cleveland on the road in a thrilling Game 7 that went into extra innings.
- Before that, the Kansas City Royals beat the St. Louis Cardinals to overcome a 3-1 deficit in 1985.
Other notable 1-3 comebacks:
- 2016: Cubs vs Cleveland
- 1985: Royals vs Cardinals
- 1979: Pirates vs Orioles
- 1968: Tigers vs Cardinals
- 1958: Yankees vs Braves
- 1925: Pirates vs Senators
According to statistics, teams leading the World Series 3-1 have gone on to win the title 31 out of 37 times, which represents an 84% success rate. It’s a big ask for the Yankees, even ignoring the 0-3 start!