Guardians clinch postseason berth in the most fitting way possible

Matt Sullivan

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Guardians clinch postseason berth in the most fitting way possible image

One of the storylines of the MLB season in September has been the ascension of the Cleveland Guardians. After being down at least 15.5 games and looking like they were all but eliminated earlier in the month, the Guardians have clinched a postseason berth.

During their series against the Texas Rangers, after dropping the first game, the Guardians were looking to cement a postseason spot with a win, as the Houston Astros also lost on Friday night. On Saturday night, the Guardians did secure the win and a postseason spot.

But the Guardians didn't just clinch a spot in the postseason. They did so in the most fitting way possible for the Guardians. They haven't made their improbable comeback on the heels of power and offense, but rather small ball, luck, and great pitching. Saturday night was no different.

Guardians clinch postseason berth in the most 'Guardians' way possible

As Fox Sports: MLB shared on Twitter/X, the Guardians, with the bases loaded, walked off the Rangers on a hit-by-pitch. For a team that's mounted an impossible comeback thanks to good luck and small-ball, this was a very fitting way to clinch a postseason berth.

Cleveland won 3-2, securing their 87th win of the season and officially rounding out the AL postseason teams. But, on the final day, there's still plenty to play for.

If the Guardians can win the regular season finale, they will clinch the AL Central and host either the Detroit Tigers or the Boston Red Sox for the wild card round.

Clinching a postseason berth after all that this team has been through is incredibly impressive. At one point, the Guardians were dead in the water, but now, they have a chance to win the AL Central and host a postseason series.

Earlier in the year, Cleveland lost both Emmanuel Clase, their All-Star closer, and Luis Ortiz, a core member of the starting rotation, to MLB investigations over alleged gambling. That hurt the team in more ways than just their absence, as losing both was a tough blow for the Guardians players to accept.

More: How one decision sparked the Guardians' incredible AL Central comeback

And at the deadline, Cleveland sold both Shane Bieber and Paul Seawald, two pitchers who were injured at the time, so while unfortunate losses, they were not the most surprising moves. But the team had also been considering moving Steven Kwan.

But Kwan stayed, and since then, the Guardians have steadily chipped away at the Tigers' division lead, and now, have officially secured a postseason spot. And they secured their spot in the most Guardians way possible: on a walk-off hit-by-pitch after loading the bases with two outs.

This Guardians team doesn't go away, and with how hot they are and the magic they seem to hold, whoever faces Cleveland in the wild card won't have an easy time. It's an incredible story already, and the Guardians have a chance to add another page by clinching the AL Central in the final game of the 2025 regular season.

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Matt Sullivan

Matt Sullivan is a freelance writer for The Sporting News, predominantly covering MLB. Matt is a native of Pennsylvania and has worked with Athlon Sports, Last Word on Sports, and other outlets.