The Houston Astros waited until the final seconds before the trade deadline to acquire right-hander Justin Verlander - and that deal has paved the way to the World Series.
Verlander was named the American League Championship Series MVP following the team's Game 7 win against the New York Yankees on Saturday.
In two ALCS starts, Verlander was the definition of brilliant. The veteran took the mound in Game 2 and went the distance, striking out 13 batters before the Astros' dramatic walk-off win.
He followed that performance by tossing seven shutout innings in Houston's do-or-die Game 6 on Friday.
In four postseason appearances (three starts, including the ALDS), Verlander owns a 1.46 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings.
Dating back to the regular season, Verlander has a 9-0 record since the Astros acquired him from the Detroit Tigers, with an incredible 67 strikeouts and only 11 walks.