Falling behind two games to none in the Division Series is the kiss of death. Prior to the current postseason, among the 32 clubs that lost the first two games since MLB introduced its current wild-format in 1995, only four came back to win their first-round series. Twenty-one series ended in a sweep, and seven others ended in four games.

So, one might say it was a good weekend for the four playoff teams that lost their first two games last week. Sure, the Cubs bowed out without a whimper in Saturday’s Game 3 with the Dodgers, and the Brewers fell in Game 4 to the Phillies Sunday after keeping title hopes alive on Saturday. Still, three of four 0-2 teams beat the odds to win Game 3.

Both American League Division Series will play Game 4 Monday, as the White Sox and Angels staved off elimination on Sunday. The Angels did it on the road, claiming a dramatic 12-inning affair at Fenway Park after dropping two games to the defending World Series champions at home.

Even with the White Sox and Angels rebounding on Sunday, elimination games don’t get any easier. Twenty-eight of the 32 clubs to lose the first two games in a Division Series couldn’t force a Game 5.

On the other hand, in the four instances that teams started 0-2 and won Game 4, they couldn’t be stopped in the deciding game.

Winning a Division Series after Starting 0-2, 1995-2007

Winner. . . . . . . . . Loser
1995 Mariners. . . . .Yankees
1999 Red Sox. . . . . Indians
2001 Yankees. . . . .Athletics
2003 Red Sox. . . . .Athletics

Overcoming an 0-2 deficit to win a Division Series has never happened in the National League, and it won’t be happening in 2008. The Dodgers, who have been swept a major league-high three times in Division Series play, and the Phillies, who were bounced in three straight by the red-hot Rockies a year ago, will open the NLCS on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Angels will have to produce the fourth straight road win in their series with the Red Sox. The White Sox will have to win their fourth straight elimination game in eight days when they face the Rays.

Neither team has been kissed just yet.