This is a headline we did not suppose we would be seeing in 2025: The Cleveland Guardians have clinched a playoff berth. 

The miracle run continued Saturday with a 3-2 walk-off hit-by-pitch win over the Texas Rangers (field rating). Whereas the livid combat for the AL Central title is ongoing, the Guardians are playoff-bound for the seventh time within the final 10 seasons.

The Guardians gained the AL Central final season, however this yr was a curler coaster at greatest.

• The Guardians misplaced 10 in a row from June 26-July 6, pushing them 15 ½ again of the Tigers within the division and eight video games underneath .500 at 40-48. They have been seven again of playoff place. 
• They gained 11 of their subsequent 13, however then misplaced 4 of 5. They offered on the commerce deadline, most notably dealing Shane Bieber.
• Then they gained 9 of their subsequent 10. 
• Then they misplaced 11 of their subsequent 14. After the loss on Aug. 25, the Guardians have been in third place, 12 ½ video games out within the Central and 6 out of a playoff spot. 
• The Guardians then gained 4 in a row, adopted by shedding 4 of 5. After their Sept. 4 loss, they have been 11 video games again within the division and three ½ video games out of a wild card. 
• After which they went gangbusters. Since that 11-game deficit, the Guardians have gone an absurd 18-4. They gained all six video games in opposition to the Tigers. 

MLB playoff clinch situations: How AL East, AL Central, wild card races will likely be determined this weekend

Mike Axisa

This marks one of the vital superb and unlikely comebacks in MLB historical past. That assertion is not hyperbole. Ought to the Guardians win the division, it’s going to mark the largest deficit overcome to win a division title in MLB historical past. The 1914 Braves held the document for greater than a century at 15 video games. Conversely, the earlier excessive for a blown lead was 13 video games by the 1951 Dodgers.  

Should you dig into the playoff odds, the Guardians bottomed out at 2.5% on Sept. 2. Their probabilities to win the division have been beneath 1% from July 4-20 after which once more from Aug. 19-Sept. 12. 

There’s far an excessive amount of credit score to go round to call everybody proper now. We will begin with the group as a complete. Calling up rookie starter Parker Messick and having him dominate down the stretch is a testomony to the flexibility of the ballclub to develop stud gamers and plug them in. Each the rotation and bullpen have been glorious down the stretch. On the position-player aspect, Steven Kwan deserves loads of credit score for the steadiness he gives each offensively and defensively, however we have to elevate José Ramírez right here. 

Ramírez is the engine that makes the Guardians go. The 32-year-old third baseman is once more posting numbers that’ll land him within the prime 5 of MVP voting in a season with two traditionally good frontrunners. He isn’t underrated anymore however he’s the guts of this staff.

The Guardians’ work is not full. They nonetheless must lock down the AL Central they usually’re absolutely hungry for a World Collection title in spite of everything these postseason journeys. For now, although, they’ve already accomplished an absurdly unlikely run to the playoffs.