Cleveland Guardians to Playoffs: Dramatic victory against Rangers

Cleveland Guardians Secure Playoff Berth with Dramatic Finish

The Cleveland Guardians lived a season full of emotions, and this Saturday they secured their place in the postseason in an epic way. They defeated the Texas Rangers with a score of 3-2, thanks to a hit with the bases loaded in the ninth inning. The unexpected hero of the day was C.J. Kayfus, who received the decisive hit with two outs and the score tied. This moment unleashed euphoria in Progressive Field, guaranteeing Cleveland, at least, a place in the Wild Card Series. They still have chances to obtain the title of the American League Central Division.

WALK-OFF HIT BY PITCH TO SEND CLEVELAND TO THE POSTSEASON!! 🤯😱

If the Detroit Tigers suffer a loss on Sunday, or if the Guardians secure a victory, Cleveland would secure their second consecutive divisional championship. Even if they tie with Detroit, Cleveland would take the title thanks to their 8-5 advantage in the head-to-head series. The Guardians’ path to the postseason was full of obstacles. In July, they suffered a 10-game losing streak, which put their season performance in doubt. At the beginning of September, they were 11 games behind the Tigers and with only a 4.8% chance of qualifying, according to FanGraphs data. However, since September 5, they won 17 of 19 games, closing the month with an 18-7 record.

We knew we couldn’t give up. Today we are celebrating because this group never stopped fighting.

Stephen Vogt, Manager of the Guardians

In addition to the challenges on the field, Cleveland faced the departure of Shane Bieber before the trade deadline and the absences of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who were sidelined by external investigations. Despite this, the team remained united and proved its worth at the crucial moment. Cleveland’s fans are already dreaming of the postseason, with the possibility of playing at home or away, but with the certainty that the team has staged one of the most memorable comebacks of the 2025 season.