CLEVELAND — With little fanfare, the defending World Series champion Houston Astros swept past the Cleveland Indians on Monday to advance to the American League Championship Series.
The Astros came from behind in Game 3 to smother the Cleveland Indians, 11-3, on a sunny day at Progressive Field, and clinched the best-of-five division series while much of the baseball world was focused on the other American League division series.
The Red Sox and Yankees are contesting the more intriguing matchup of old rivals, but Houston may still be baseball’s best overall team.
The A.L.C.S. won’t begin until Saturday, so the Astros will have to go four days without playing.