Story perspectives

Guardians clinch AL Central, secure No. 2 seed bye

By Drooid · Sep 27, 2026, 3:12 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Cleveland Guardians Clinch

Cleveland Guardians clinched the AL Central with an 11-5 win over Kansas City on September 26, 2026.
The victory gave Cleveland its third consecutive division title.
Chicago’s loss to Colorado awarded Cleveland the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.
Cleveland will host Games 1 and 2 of the ALDS on Oct 3 at Progressive Field.
The ALDS opponent will be the winner of the Chicago vs. AL West matchup (Texas Rangers or Houston Astros).

Summary

Chicago White Sox Clinch

The Chicago White Sox became the first MLB team to make the playoffs after back-to-back 100-loss seasons.
Shortstop Colson Montgomery set a franchise record with 225 strikeouts, the most in MLB history this season.
The club finished 82-77, its highest win total after three consecutive 100-loss campaigns.
General manager Chris Getz said the team rose from a 6-13 start to clinch the third AL wild-card spot.

History

Historical Context

After 88 years without a title, the Chicago White Sox captured the 2005 World Series, finishing the regular season 99-63 and posting an 11-1 postseason record under manager Ozzie Guillén. The victory ended the franchise’s longest pennant drought since the 1917 championship and highlighted a rare postseason run that still stands as the team’s most recent series win.

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Cleveland Guardians Clinch

Cleveland Guardians clinched the AL Central with an 11-5 win over Kansas City on September 26, 2026.
The victory gave Cleveland its third consecutive division title.
Chicago’s loss to Colorado awarded Cleveland the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.
Cleveland will host Games 1 and 2 of the ALDS on Oct 3 at Progressive Field.
The ALDS opponent will be the winner of the Chicago vs. AL West matchup (Texas Rangers or Houston Astros).

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