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Where Cleveland Guardians sit in AL Central, MLB wild-card standings after Friday's game
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- Where Cleveland Guardians sit in AL Central, MLB wild-card standings after Friday's game
CLEVELAND — The Guardians entered their series opener Sept. 26 against the Texas Rangers on the doorstep of the MLB playoffs. After losing to the Rangers 7-3 at Progressive Field , the Guardians have yet to open the door.
With the defeat, the Guardians (86-74) failed to do their part to inch closer toward clinching a playoff berth. Yet, the Guardians also caught breaks and control their own destiny in the American League Central Division and wild-card races.
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With two regular-season games left Sept. 27-28 against the Rangers (81-79), the Guardians are neck and neck in the division standings with the Detroit Tigers , who lost 4-3 at the Boston Red Sox on Sept. 26.
Cleveland holds the tiebreaker against Detroit, so if the two teams were to finish the regular season with identical records, the Guardians would be crowned division champions for the second consecutive year. As for the wild-card race, the Guardians also hold the tiebreaker against the Houston Astros , who lost 4-3 at the Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 26.
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MLB playoff picture
Guardians magic numbers. When Cleveland can clinch playoff spot
The Guardians' magic number to clinch the AL Central has been reduced to two because the Tigers lost to the Red Sox. The Guardians' magic number to clinch a playoff spot as at least a wild-card team is one because the Astros lost to the Angels.
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The Guardians could clinch at least a wild-card berth with one win or an Astros loss. In other words, the Guardians will face a win-and-in scenario against the Rangers on Sept. 27.
The Guardians could clinch the AL Central title by winning their final two games, with one win and a Tigers loss or with two Tigers losses.
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Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Slade Cecconi throws a pitch against the Texas Rangers on Sept. 26, 2025, in Cleveland.
AL Central Division standings
The AL Central Division standings entering Sept. 27:
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Guardians — 86-74
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Tigers — 86-74
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Guardians own the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Tigers.
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The New York Yankees (92-68) and Toronto Blue Jays (92-68) are tied for the lead in the AL East and have clinched playoff spots. The Blue Jays own the tiebreaker. The Seattle Mariners (90-70) have clinched the AL West and a playoff berth.
AL wild card standings
The AL wild-card standings entering Sept. 27 (top three teams make the playoffs):
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x- Yankees — 92-68 (6 games ahead)
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Red Sox — 88-72 (2 games ahead)
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Tigers — 86-74 (-)
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Astros — 85-75 (1 game behind)
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x-Denotes team has clinched playoff spot.
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The Guardians own the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Astros.
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Guardians score today, other AL playoff contender scores Friday
Results on Sept. 26 :
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Rangers 7, Guardians 3
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Angels 4, Astros 3
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Red Sox 4, Tigers 3
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Yankees 8, Orioles 4
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Blue Jays 4, Rays 2
Guardians game today
The Guardians lost 7-3 to the Rangers on Sept. 26. The Guardians were coming off a 2-1 series win over the Tigers, with Cleveland prevailing 5-2 on Sept. 23 and 5-1 on Sept. 24 before falling 4-2 on Sept. 25. Next up for the Guardians are the final two regular-season games of the year — against the Rangers at 7:15 p.m. Sept. 27 and at 3:10 p.m. Sept. 28.
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Cleveland Guardians schedule for the rest of the 2025 MLB season
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Saturday, Sept. 27: vs. Rangers, 7:15 p.m.
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Sunday, Sept. 28: vs. Rangers, 3:10 p.m.
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When do MLB playoffs start?
The 2025 MLB postseason will begin on Sept. 30, with all four wild-card series getting underway. The best of-three series are scheduled to run through Oct. 2. The best-of-five division series start on Oct. 4, two days after the conclusion of the wild-card series.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com . On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians' playoff chances, AL Central standings, wild card playoffs
