The universe couldn't allow the Cleveland Guardians to clinch a postseason berth normally, right?
The Guardians were never even supposed to be in position to return to the playoffs, but a remarkable late-season run allowed the small-market franchise to overcome what was at its worst a 15.5-game deficit and take control of the AL Central.
Cleveland still has work to do to win a division title, but a win on Saturday punched the Guardians' ticket to October — and, naturally, it required a bizarre finish.
Here's a look at how the Guardians clinched a postseason berth and who Cleveland is set to face in the Wild Card Series.
MORE: Explaining the AL wild-card picture
How the Guardians clinched a playoff berth
The Guardians and Texas Rangers spent most of Saturday's game deadlocked at two after a fourth inning home run from Adolis Garcia, and extra innings seemed to be in the cards when Angel Martinez and Jose Ramirez recorded the first two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
After Johnathan Rodriguez opened the door with a walk, Cleveland pounced. Kyle Manzardo extended the inning with a single, the Rangers walked Gabriel Arias, and the inning came down to rookie C.J. Kayfus. He didn't have to do all that much.
Kayfus was plunked by Rangers reliever Robert Garcia on the second pitch, pinch-runner Petey Halpin scored the winning run in his fifth career game, and the Guardians walked into the postseason after recording only one hit over the final four innings against Texas.
Here is the full sequence:
And here we go.#GuardsBall | #GuardiWins pic.twitter.com/QdibocPgy7
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 28, 2025
Cleveland's unlikely rally was an appropriate end to an unlikely run to the postseason. The Guardians were 40-48 on July 6, lost star closer Emmanuel Clase to a gambling investigation in late July, largely sat on their hands at the trade deadline and still lingered under .500 as late as Sept. 4. 23 days later, they are postseason-bound and in the driver's seat for a second consecutive AL Central title.
MORE: Breaking down the full MLB playoff picture
Who will the Guardians play in the playoffs?
The Guardians don't yet know their opponent in the Wild Card Series, but it's guaranteed to be either the Detroit Tigers or Boston Red Sox.
If the Guardians win on Sunday and clinch the AL Central, their matchup would be the loser of the game between the Tigers and Red Sox. In that scenario, the loser would be playing in Cleveland.
If the Guardians lose on Sunday, their matchup depends on what the Tigers do. A Detroit win, in that scenario, would allow the Tigers to clinch the AL Central. That would send the Guardians to Detroit for the Wild Card Series as the No. 6 seed. A Tigers loss, in that scenario, would allow Cleveland to win the AL Central and host Detroit in the Wild Card Series.