Home · Sports · Sep 25 archive
Cleveland Guardians Clinch Playoff Berth, Eye First World Series Title Since 1948
Confirmed
In Short: The Guardians are now aiming for their first World Series title since 1948, the longest current title drought in Major League Baseball.
With their win on Thursday night, the Cleveland Guardians clinched a playoff berth, joining the Rays, Yankees, Red Sox, and White Sox in the American League playoffs.
The Guardians are now aiming for their first World Series title since 1948, the longest current title drought in Major League Baseball.
The Guardians' playoff run is particularly significant given their recent history. Under manager Stephen Vogt, they have qualified for the playoffs for the third consecutive year, and in the broader context, they have made the playoffs in eight of the last 11 seasons under both Vogt and former manager Terry Francona.
The Guardians' playoff hopes were bolstered by their strong bullpen, which ranks highly in forward-looking metrics like Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) and strikeout percentage (K%). This strength could be crucial in the playoffs, where contemporary managers often focus on getting their starters out before significant damage occurs.
The Guardians' playoff path remains uncertain, with a one-game lead over the White Sox in the AL Central and wild card spots still up for grabs.
In addition to the Guardians, other teams like the Dodgers, Brewers, Braves, Cubs, and Padres have also secured playoff berths, with the final spots still to be determined.
The Guardians are also hoping to have injured pitcher Colin Holderman back from the injured list before the playoffs begin, adding another layer of depth to their roster.
While the Guardians face significant challenges, their playoff experience and strong bullpen could give them an edge in the postseason.
What this adds
The Guardians' playoff run comes after a dramatic shift in Cleveland sports, with the city's NBA team, the Cavaliers, reaching the NBA Finals in 1999, and now the Guardians clinching a playoff berth.
What's confirmed
- With their win on Thursday night, the Cleveland Guardians clinched a playoff berth, joining the Rays, Yankees, Red Sox, and White Sox in the American League playoffs.
- The Guardians are now aiming for their first World Series title since 1948, the longest current title drought in Major League Baseball.
- The Guardians' playoff run is particularly significant given their recent history. Under manager Stephen Vogt, they have qualified for the playoffs for the third consecutive year, and in the broader context, they have made the playoffs in eight of the last 11 seasons under both Vogt and former manager Terry Francona.
- The Guardians' playoff hopes were bolstered by their strong bullpen, which ranks highly in forward-looking metrics like Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) and strikeout percentage (K%). This strength could be crucial in the playoffs, where contemporary managers often focus on getting their starters out before significant damage occurs.
- The Guardians' playoff path remains uncertain, with a one-game lead over the White Sox in the AL Central and wild card spots still up for grabs.
- In addition to the Guardians, other teams like the Dodgers, Brewers, Braves, Cubs, and Padres have also secured playoff berths, with the final spots still to be determined.
- The Guardians are also hoping to have injured pitcher Colin Holderman back from the injured list before the playoffs begin, adding another layer of depth to their roster.
- While the Guardians face significant challenges, their playoff experience and strong bullpen could give them an edge in the postseason.
What's still developing
- As for their No. 3, deadline addition Foster Griffin still has stabilizer potential even though he's struggled on the run-prevention front since joining Cleveland.
- In the final days and weeks of the regular season, Cleveland has been in a back-and-forth tussle with the White Sox for the division title, and that race seems destined to go down to the wire.
- It's baseball, which means any team in the playoffs has realistic designs on going all the way, and the Guardians in particular have some factors in their favor.
- The Dodgers remain the World Series favorites despite not being the top seed in the National League.
- All postseason long, Mike Brown has said that the hardest game in the playoffs is the one closing out a series.
- David Liam Kyle CLEVELAND — From a nearly 30-year drought to an NBA Finals berth in a New York minute.
- A perfect May and two series sweeps did it for the Knickerbockers.
- The Knicks are headed to the big dance for the first time since 1999 after they completed a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
- They were up by 40 on Cleveland through three games and just about doubled that Sunday night.
- The AL West remains up in the air as the Rangers and Astros jockey for the division title that could see a sub-.500 team take the crown for the first time ever in a 162-game season (the loser will win the third American League wild-card spot).
- Now, let's get you caught up on the bracket, standings, clinching scenarios and more.
- 5 Cubs Clinched division - x Clinched wild-card - y Clinched playoff berth - z Eliminated - e The content on this site is for entertainment purposes only and CBS Sports makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.