Cleveland Guardians secure their third consecutive AL Central title after defeating the Kansas City Royals.

The Cleveland Guardians clinched their third consecutive American League Central title after beating the Kansas City Royals and getting help from the Colorado Rockies’ win over the Chicago White Sox. Cleveland secured the AL’s No. 2 seed and a bye through the Wild Card Series, extending manager Stephen Vogt’s division-title streak to three seasons. The Guardians were scheduled to open a best-of-five ALDS at Progressive Field on Oct. 3 against the winner of the No. 3-versus-No. 6 Wild Card matchup. The title capped a late-season push for Cleveland, which had already secured a playoff berth earlier in the week.
Cleveland clinched the division with an 11-5 win in which it hit five home runs: two each from Brayan Rocchio and Patrick Bailey, plus one from Chase DeLauter.
The clincher was another September comeback for Cleveland, though it was less dramatic than the previous season’s 15.5-game rally to pass Detroit.
Outfielder Jo Adell, acquired from the Angels before the trade deadline, reached the postseason for the first time in his seven-year MLB career; he said he was excited to help Cleveland make its push.
Cleveland had secured its playoff berth with a 1-0 win over Boston on Thursday, with Angel MartÃnez hitting the game’s only home run and closer Cade Smith striking out the side in the ninth.
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