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Guardians Stumble, but Remain in Control of AL Central Race
28 Sep, 2025
Summary
- Guardians drop series opener to Rangers, but Red Sox help keeps them atop AL Central
- Guardians' magic number to clinch division down to 2 with 2 games left
- Guardians can clinch division with 2 wins or 2 Tigers losses this weekend

The Cleveland Guardians' quest to defend their AL Central title hit a minor speed bump on Friday, as they dropped the series opener against the Texas Rangers by a score of 7-3. However, the Guardians remain firmly in control of their own destiny, with their magic number to clinch the division down to just 2 with two games remaining.
The loss came just a day after the Boston Red Sox handed the Guardians a gift by rallying to defeat the Detroit Tigers, keeping Cleveland and Detroit knotted atop the division. Now, the Guardians can secure their second straight AL Central crown with either 2 wins of their own or 2 losses by the Tigers this weekend.
While the Guardians were not in the mood to celebrate the Red Sox's assistance, given their own lackluster performance, manager Stephen Vogt emphasized that his team remains unfazed and ready to bounce back. "This group doesn't get fazed by anything," Vogt said. The Guardians will turn to Joey Cantillo on Saturday, hoping to regain their dominant form and clinch the division title.