The Cleveland Guardians are in a flat-footed tie with the Chicago White Sox for first place in the AL Central entering the final three series of the season. But despite winning two of three games against them this week, the Guardians do not hold the tiebreaker advantage over the White Sox, which means they have to finish at least one game ahead of them to win the division.
With each team sporting a 78-75 record, Cleveland looks to have all of the momentum, having rallied from six games behind in mid-August. Chicago had lost seven of its past nine games before defeating the Detroit Tigers on Monday to re-create the first-place tie.
With that in mind, analyst Nick Camino has revealed the Guardians’ path to winning the AL Central, and it will require at least seven wins in this final stretch.
“The Guardians have NINE games left. To win the AL Central Division, I think they have to go 8-1 or 7-2. To make the AL Wild Card, I think they have to go 6-3,” Camino posted.
The #Guardians have NINE games left.
To win the AL Central Division, I think they have to go 8-1 or 7-2.
To make the AL Wildcard, I think they have to go 6-3.
(Yes, I realize my math was all jacked up earlier this morning. Still waking up over here.)
— Nick Camino (@NickCaminoWKYC) September 18, 2026
In taking the recent series from the White Sox, which included a comeback walk-off win in the second game, the Guardians regained sole possession of first place for the first time since July 3. Cleveland and Chicago were tied at the All-Star break, but an extended cold stretch by the Guardians dropped them into fourth place in the division.
Now, after going 18-10 over its past 28 games, Cleveland will host the Athletics in the final series of the season at Progressive Field. That will be followed by road games at the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals. The Athletics have the third-worst record in the majors, and the Royals have the fifth-worst.
Meanwhile, the White Sox will continue their series with the Tigers before visiting the Royals. Chicago then returns home to host the Colorado Rockies, who have the worst record in the majors, in its final series.
Entering play on Friday, the Guardians are considered the third AL wild card, with a two-game lead over the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays, so there is another clear path to the postseason if they should fall short of their third straight division title.
NEXT: Guardians Get Timely Break In Tight Wild Card Race
