A lot has changed in the AL Wild Card scene in the two weeks since about the race. At the time, there were three clubs within two games of catching the Mariners for the final Wild Card spot, and aside from an outside chance of Houston losing the AL West the rest of the playoff field looked Adam Laroche Jersey more or le s set. Now, the Mariners have surged ahead of the pack to run down the Astros in the West, while the Red Sox have slumped badly to the point where their ticket getting punched is no longer a foregone conclusion. The Rays (nine games back of a Wild Card spot), Royals (seven games back) and even the Rangers (4.5 games back) are all extreme long shots, meaning that if anyone is going to shake up the AL playoff field, it will be a team that wasnt even included in our poll from two weeks ago: the Cleveland Guardians. Cleveland has won 11 of its last 12 games, and the 80-71 Guards now sit 2.5 games back of Boston for the final Wild Card spot. Starters , , and have all been excellent since the All-Star break, while and have carried the offense. The fabled bullpen that pushed Cleveland into the postseason last year has shown up again this season (even without ), and that unit has done a lot of the heavy lifting for the Guardians with the lowest FIP and second-lowest ERA in baseball since the start of August. What makes the Guardians most interesting as a po sible late entrant into the postseason picture, however, is that they actually control their own destiny in the AL Central as well. The division has looked more or le s locked up for the Tigers all year long, but a 5-9 record so far in September alongside Clevelands surge has left them vulnerable with four games (including one today) left on the schedule between the two clubs. With two avenues to a playoff spot on the table, the Guardians are arguably the most interesting team to watch over the final few days of the regular season. The playoff odds at FanGraphs are skeptical, giving Cleveland a to make the postseason this year entering play today. Thats actually the best odds of any team not currently in playoff position, but it still highlights the tough road the Guardians will have to hoe if theyre going to play in October. That said, Cleveland does have one thing in its favor: the schedule. The Guardians benefit from four games against the lowly Twins, who have been one of the worst teams in baseball since their ma sive sell-off at the trade deadline. Cleveland also has a remaining series against an injury-ravaged Rangers team to wrap up the 2025 campaign. Meanwhile, the Tigers and Red Sox actually face each other in the final series of the regular season. If the Guardians can just remain in spitting distance of both teams until then, theyll have an opportunity to make up a game or two in the standings over that final weekend. What do MLBTR readers think? Will the Guardians be able to pull it off and shake up the playoff field? Or will they be left on the outside looking in this October? Have your say in the poll below: Garrett Crochet Jersey
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