The Cleveland Guardians have been the hottest team in baseball lately, and as they always find a way to do, have themselves in a prime position to sneak into the 2025 MLB postseason.
Prior to Sunday's loss, the Guardians had won 10 straight games, and 15 of their last 16 games. Now, Cleveland sits just one game behind the Detroit Tigers with six games left in the regular season.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale noted if the Guardians can complete the comeback and overtake the Tigers to win the AL Central, Cleveland would pass the New York Yankees' 1978 team for the greatest comeback in MLB history.
Guardians Could Make History With Division Comeback
The Guardians have had a long road to get back within a game of the Tigers for first place in the AL Central. Cleveland trailed the Tigers by 15 1/2 games on July 9, 12 1/2 on Aug 26, and 9 1/2 on Sept. 10.
"If the Guardians win the division, it would be the greatest comeback in MLB history," Nightengale wrote. "Eclipsing the Yankees’ 14-game deficit in 1978 to overcome the Boston Red Sox."
The Detroit Tigers & Cleveland Guardians are separated by just 1 game in the AL Central 😳 pic.twitter.com/CbrZbzOucA
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) September 22, 2025
The Yankees' 1978 season was special and putting the 2025 Guardians team above them would be a statement, but if Cleveland can finish the job, it will break New York's record.
That Yankees' team finished the year with a 99-63 record, identical to the Boston Red Sox's, and it led to a one-game playoff to decide the division. New York won the playoff game thanks to a Bucky Dent three-run home run, and finished the comeback to win the AL East in 1978.
A monumental moment during the Yankees' comeback during that season was the "Boston Massacre," which was a four game series between the two teams in September. The Yankees dominated the series and outscored the Red Sox 42-9.
🎶 Take me out to the ball game 🎶
— clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) September 22, 2025
That's what Guardians manager Stephen Vogt is hoping to hear from you this week! The three-game series vs. Detroit starts Tuesday. More: https://t.co/siEDo7LuaY
Photo: AP pic.twitter.com/8g279CpZFv
Similarly, the Guardians already dominated one three-game series with the Tigers less than 10 days ago with a three-game sweep. Now, the Guardians and Tigers will play another three-game series starting on Tuesday that could essentially decide the division.
The Yankees' 1978 team went on to win the World Series. If the Guardians can pull off the greatest comeback in MLB history, will the magical run continue in Cleveland?