The Cleveland Guardians won one of the biggest games of the season.
Defeating the Detroit Tigers was a huge boost to their playoff aspirations, as shown by their updated postseason odds.
“The last time the Guardians were eight games over .500 four months ago, their postseason chances were 47 percent, according to FanGraphs. They improved from 10.9 percent entering Tuesday to 15.1 percent following the win,” Tim Stebbins wrote.
That’s still not particularly encouraging, but it’s a sign that the team is heading in the right direction.
The Guardians have been up and down all year but seem to be peaking at the right time.
Manager Stephen Vogt has done a great job of keeping his team grounded and pushing through adversity, and that speaks volumes about his leadership skills and ability to connect with the players.
The Guardians have closed the AL Central gap with the Tigers to 5.5 games, and with five games remaining against them, including their next two, they have a chance to win the division.
Fortunately, momentum is on their side, and contrary to what most people might think, the pressure is now on Detroit.
After being so far behind for much of the season, the Guardians may be playing with house money and can perform like a team that has nothing to lose.
With an AL Wild Card also within reach, the final stretch of the season should be exciting.
NEXT: Analyst Reveals Guardians' 'Biggest Offseason Decision'
