Rangers' ALCS victory over Astros joins top in-state playoff meetings - ESPN

Longtime rivals as part of the «Lone Star Series,» the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers squared off for the first time in the postseason in the 2023 American League Championship Series.

Bolstered by Adolis Garcia's historic ALCS performance, the Rangers stamped their ticket to the World Series by downing their familiar foe in Game 7.

This series joined a long list of memorable in-state playoff matchups. The NHL alone has had 52 total series between teams from the same state or province. There have been multiple World Series between teams that are mere miles away. In the 2023 NBA playoffs, there were two in-state playoff matchups.

Here are some of the most notable playoff series with teams not so far away from each other:

2020 NLDS: Dodgers def. Padres (California)

The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres met for the first time in the playoffs in 2020 despite playing in ballparks separated by only 124 miles. The Dodgers won the series 3-0, but it started a mini rivalry. San Diego got revenge in the 2022 NLDS, defeating Los Angeles 3-1.

2002 World Series: Angels def. Giants (California)

The first and only World Series title for the Los Angeles Angels came against the San Francisco Giants. Northern California battled Southern California in a seven-game series, with the Angels coming out victorious.

2000 World Series: Yankees def. Mets (New York)

The New York Yankees won their 26th World Series championship against the New York Mets, whose ballpark is just 10 miles away from Yankee Stadium.

This was the first Subway Series in the World Series since 1956, when the Yankees faced the Brooklyn Dodgers.

1989 World Series: Athletics def. Giants (California)

In one of the most bizarre moments in baseball history, an