CLEVELAND — After being seemingly buried in the playoff race weeks ago, the Guardians are now on the doorstep of the postseason as the American League playoff races reach their final few days — but their job is not yet done.
The Guardians continued to work their September magic, defeating the Detroit Tigers 5-1 on Sept. 24 to move closer clinching the American League Central Division title.
Cleveland entered Thursday, Sept. 25 a game ahead of Detroit in the division standings but fell to the Tigers, 4-2. The Guardians have a three-game series at home against the Texas Rangers from Sept. 26-28 to end the regular season.
The Guardians have won 17 of their past 20 games, including five of their last six against the AL Central rival Tigers. The Guardians and Tigers are both 86-73, but Cleveland holds the tiebreaker, so they retain the division lead entering Sept. 26.
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Guardians magic numbers. When Cleveland can clinch playoff spot?
Entering Sept. 26, the Guardians magic number to clinch the AL Central is at three. Their magic number to clinch a playoff spot as at least a wild-card team is two. In other words, the Guardians could clinch a playoff berth as early as Friday, Sept. 26, and they could clinch the division as early as Saturday, Sept. 27.
The AL Central Division standings entering Friday, Sept. 26:
Guardians — 86-73Tigers — 86-73Guardians own the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Tigers.The New York Yankees (91-68) and Toronto Blue Jays (91-68) are tied for the lead in the AL East and have clinched playoff spots. The Blue Jays own the tiebreaker. The Seattle Mariners (89-69) have clinched the AL West and a playoff berth.
The AL wild-card standings entering Friday, Sept. 26 (top three teams make the playoffs):
x-Yankees — 91-68 (5 games ahead)Boston Red Sox — 87-72 (1 game ahead)Tigers — 86-73 –Astros — 85-74 (1 game behind)x-Denotes team has clinched playoff spot.Records are as of 10 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25.Guardians score today, other AL playoff contender scores Thursday Tigers 4, Guardians 2 (F)Astros 11, A’s 5 (F)Yankees 5, White Sox 3 (F)Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 1 (F)Guardians game today
The Guardians continued their three-game home series against the Tigers, winning 5-1 on Wednesday, Sept. 24. The two are also set to meet at 6:40 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. Cleveland swept Detroit a week ago in Motown, as the Guardians were 7-5 winners in 10 innings Sept. 16, 4-0 winners Sept. 17 and 3-1 winners Sept. 18.
Cleveland Guardians schedule for the rest of the 2025 MLB season Friday, Sept. 26: vs. Texas Rangers, 7:10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27: vs. Texas Rangers, 7:15 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28: vs. Texas Rangers, 3:10 p.m.MLB playoff bracket if season ended todayAmerican League playoff bracket
If the season ended today:
Byes: Blue Jays, MarinersAL wild card seriesTigers at GuardiansRed Sox at YankeesNational League playoff bracket
If the season ended today:
Byes: Brewers, PhilliesNL wild card seriesMets at DodgersPadres at CubsWhen do MLB playoffs start?
The 2025 MLB postseason will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 30 with all four wild-card series getting underway. The best of-three series are scheduled to run through Thursday, Oct. 2. The best-of-five division series starts on Saturday, Oct. 4, two days after the conclusion of the wild-card series.