Guardians Creating Chaos In American League Playoff Race

The Cleveland Guardians swept the Texas Rangers last season and already split with the Baltimore Orioles which has massive implications for MLB's playoffs.

© Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Guardians were officially eliminated from postseason contention on Friday night as the Minnesota Twins clinched the American League Central. It's disappointing that this is how Cleveland's season came to an end, but there's still a good reason for them to give it their all as the year wraps up.

The Guardians are single-handedly creating chaos in the American League playoff race and the way final standings shakeout could be a direct result of how Cleveland has played over the last week.

The Texas Rangers were in town last weekend and were fresh off a four-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays. A series win against the Guardians would have put them in a perfect position to clinch a playoff spot well before the season wrapped up.

However, Cleveland unleashed an offensive avalanche on a struggling Rangers bullpen and swept the team from Arlington. Because of this series win, the AL Wild Card and AL West are an absolute mess with the Rangers, Houston Astros, and Seatle Mariners all separated by one game with a week and a half to play.

The next homestand at Progressive Field started with the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles coming to town. Whoever wins this division will be the top seed in the American League and have home-field advantage throughout. 

Tampa Bay is chasing the Orioles and are 1.5 games back as of Saturday for this top spot and the Rays are getting a little help from the Guardians along the way. 

Cleveland has won the first two games against Baltimore which clinches at least a series split. If the Guardians do go on to sweep the four-game set and the Rays do their part then there could be a changing of the guard in the AL East before the weekend is over. 

Sep 22, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher David Fry (12) celebrates his game-winning, two-RBI double in the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports / © David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Guardians fans know that it's not like the team to just give up even if they aren't technically playing for anything at this point in the season. Being the reason why another team misses out on the playoffs or loses a favorable spot in the rankings is a good enough reason to bring your best to the field every day.

Cleveland is already causing disorder and they could still create more before it's all said and done.