The Royals defeated the Houston Astros in five games in the 2015 American League Division Series (ALDS), advancing to their second straight ALCS and eighth overall.

The Toronto Blue Jays made it to the postseason for the first time since winning the 1993 World Series, finishing the season 93–69 to clinch the American League East title.

Playing in their first ALDS in team history, the Blue Jays overcame a 2–0 deficit to defeat the Texas Rangers in five games and move on to the ALCS.

In the eighth, a hit-by-pitch and single off LaTroy Hawkins was followed by Eric Hosmer's RBI double and Kendrys Morales's sacrifice fly to make it 5–0 Royals.

The Royals' touted bullpen completed the shutout, making this just the sixth time all season that Toronto was held to no runs.

[10] The Blue Jays struck first in the third on back-to-back leadoff doubles by Kevin Pillar and Ryan Goins off starter Yordano Ventura.

The Royals cut the lead to 3–2 in the third when Eric Hosmer hit into a forceout at second with runners on first and third, but the Blue Jays blew the game open in the bottom half.

After a walk, stolen base, and single, a passed ball scored another run for the Royals, then after a groundout, Mike Moustakas's sacrifice fly made it 4–0.

Liam Hendriks entered in as the long reliever for the Blue Jays and pitched 4.1 scoreless innings from the second to the sixth and finished with 13 outs from 12 batters faced, breaking the playoff record for more-outs-than-batters-faced performances.

The Blue Jays scored their only runs of the game in the third on Josh Donaldson's ground-rule double with runners on first and second followed by José Bautista's sacrifice fly.

[15] In the seventh, after LaTroy Hawkins allowed a walk and two singles to load the bases with no outs, Alcides Escobar hit a sacrifice fly off Ryan Tepera, who then threw a wild pitch to let another run score.

After Ben Zobrist walked, Lorenzo Cain's RBI single and Eric Hosmer's sacrifice fly scored a run each.

In an effort to save his bullpen and to the amusement of some fans and players, Toronto manager John Gibbons elected to bring utility infielder Cliff Pennington to pitch the top of the ninth with two on and two outs.

Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect ninth to keep Toronto's season alive and send the series back to Kansas City.

[18] Ben Zobrist opened the scoring two batters into the bottom of the 1st with a home run to left field off David Price.

Toronto got on the board in the fourth when José Bautista blasted a home run off the Royals Hall of Fame sign in left field.

At this point David Price was taken out of the game in favor of right hander Aaron Sanchez to face Alex Ríos.

On a 1-2 pitch, Rios hammered a ball to left field for a single that drove in Moustakas to give Kansas City a 3–1 lead.

[21] Revere hit a high chopper to Alcides Escobar and beat the throw to 1st base for a lead-off infield single.

Davis induced a pop-out from Chris Colabello, before throwing a wild pitch against Troy Tulowitzki which allowed Encarnacion to advance to 2nd.

[22] After a 45-minute rain delay, Toronto manager John Gibbons sent out closer Roberto Osuna to pitch the bottom of the eighth.

Eric Hosmer was up next and worked a 2-2 count before driving a ball to the right field corner for a hit, and Cain ran on contact.

The Toronto dugout not only started complaining about that, but they believed Davis should've been called for a quick pitch balk, which would have brought the tying run home.

On the next pitch, Revere swung and missed for the second strikeout of the inning, bringing up Donaldson with two runners in scoring position in a 4–3 game.