CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians have positioned themselves to capture the American League Central division title with a victory in Sunday’s regular season finale against the Texas Rangers, completing a stunning turnaround after trailing by as many as 15 1/2 games in early July.

Both Cleveland and Detroit enter the final day of the regular season tied at 87-74 atop the AL Central, but the Guardians hold the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over the Tigers. Cleveland controls its own destiny for the division crown. A Guardians win or a Detroit loss makes Cleveland the AL Central champions for the third time in four years.

TEAM
W
L
PCT
GB
MAG#
L10
STRK
NEXT

CLE
87
74
.540
–
1
7-3
W1
Sept. 28 vs. TEX

DET
87
74
.540
–
2
2-8
W1
Sept. 28 at BOS

The Tigers have watched their division lead completely evaporate. Detroit surrendered a once insurmountable lead, but also lost the season series to the Guardians, eliminating their ability to win any potential tiebreaker with Cleveland.

For the Tigers to claim the division title, they need the Rangers to defeat the Guardians on Sunday while Detroit takes care of business against the Red Sox.

Guards can win the AL Central if …

The Guardians are division champions for the third time in four seasons and 13th overall with a win. They are already guaranteed no worse than the third wild card spot.

A Detroit loss in Boston would also clinch the division title for the Guards.

Wild card opponent undecided

Cleveland’s wild card round opponent is still not completely decided. Playoff seeding adds another layer of nuance to Sunday’s games. If the Guardians fail to win the division, they would be the sixth seed due to losing the tiebreaker to Boston.

TEAM
W
L
PCT
WCGB
L10
STRK
NEXT

NYY
93
68
.578
+6.0
9-1
W7
Sep 28 vs. BAL

BOS
88
73
.547
+1.0
6-4
L1
Sep 28 vs. DET

DET
87
74
.540
–
2-8
W1
Sep 28 at BOS

Detroit could potentially secure the fifth seed and a matchup with New York in the wild card round.

If the Tigers defeat the Red Sox on Sunday, both teams would finish with 88 wins. Should Cleveland also win Sunday to take the division and earn the third seed, the Tigers and Red Sox would claim the fifth and sixth seeds, respectively, meaning the Red Sox would open wild card play in Cleveland on Tuesday.

The odds

Fangraphs.com gives Cleveland a 75% chance to win the division and a 25% chance to take the third wild card.

The matchups

Tigers vs. Red Sox, 3:05 p.m.

RHP Chris Paddack (5-11, 5.27) vs. TBA.

Guardians vs. Rangers, 3:10 p.m. on CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM 1100 AM, WMMS 100.7 FM, WARF 1350 AM (Spanish) and the Guardians Radio Network.

LHP Logan Allen (8-11, 4.14) vs. LHP Patrick Corbin (7-11, 4.34).

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