The Cleveland Guardians continue their final series of the regular season tonight at home against the Texas Rangers.

Cleveland enters tied with the Detroit Tigers for first place in the AL Central, but neither team has clinched a postseason berth. The Guardians can lock up a spot with either a win tonight or a Houston Astros loss.

Detroit, meanwhile, would also clinch in that same scenario, splitting the division and a Wild Card berth. With both clubs playing on edge, the math is straightforward for Cleveland — win and keep control. They also hold the all-important tiebreaker over both the Tigers and Astros, which means their path to October is the clearest.

The Guardians hand the ball to Joey Cantillo, one of their emerging young arms. Cantillo has been steady across the season with a 5-3 record and 3.21 ERA, but he has truly elevated his game down the stretch.

In September, he’s been dominant, going 2-0 with a 1.16 ERA over four starts, showing poise and command when his team has needed him most. If he can deliver another quality outing, Cleveland will be in prime position to close the door on the AL Central race.

Jacob Latz gets the start for Texas. He’s split time between the bullpen and rotation this year. He’s 2-0 with a 2.80 ERA overall and has been sharp in his seven starts, posting a 2.62 ERA in those games.

But Latz typically doesn’t work deep into starts, averaging just under five innings. That means Texas’s bullpen will be leaned on heavily — but that isn’t necessarily a problem. Both the Rangers and Guardians boast top-tier relief units, making this matchup as much about late-inning execution as the starters.

Prediction

All signs point to a hard-fought, low-scoring battle defined by pitching and bullpen usage. Cantillo’s September surge gives Cleveland the edge, but this will be a nail-biter.

Prediction: Guardians 3, Rangers 2

Starting Lineups

Texas Rangers

1. Michael Helman — CF

2. Cody Freeman — LF

3. Josh Jung — 3B

4. Adolis Garcia — DH

5. Kyle Higashioka — C

6. Jake Burger — 1B

7. Donovan Solano — 2B

8. Ezequiel Duran — SS

9. Dylan Moore — RF

Starting Pitcher: Jacob Latz (LHP) — 2‑0, 2.80 ERA

Cleveland Guardians

1. Steven Kwan — LF

2. Angel Martinez — CF

3. José Ramírez — 3B

4. Johnathan Rodriguez — RF

5. Kyle Manzardo — DH

6. Gabriel Arias — SS

7. Jhonkensy Noel — 1B

8. Brayan Rocchio — 2B

9. Austin Hedges — C

Starting Pitcher: Joey Cantillo (LHP) — 5‑3, 3.21 ERA

How to Watch Rangers vs. Guardians

First pitch for tonight’s Rangers–Guardians game is set for 7:15 PM Eastern / 6:15 PM Central at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

The game airs live in select regions on FOX. That means if this is your game of the week, you can watch it for free on your local FOX affiliate with an antenna, or at no additional cost through most existing cable, satellite, or live-TV streaming packages.

Looking to watch online? The matchup will also stream live on the FOX Sports app and website.

If those options aren’t available, several services offer free trials that include FOX and FOX Sports.

FuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream, and FOX One all provide free trial periods that give you immediate access to the game.

YouTube TV even offers a 20-minute free preview, without having to register for a trial — if you just want to catch part of the game.

Texas Rangers vs. Cleveland Guardians

Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025

Time: 7:15 PM Eastern / 6:15 PM Central

Venue: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH

TV: FOX

Streaming: FOX Sports app and website