Cleveland Guardians Complete Historic Playoff Push After Wild Walk-Off Win Over Texas Rangers

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paul White | Last updated Sep 28, 2025 12:30 AM ET

One of the best things about MLB playoff races is that for many teams in them, every single game matters.

The Cleveland Guardians were 12.5 games back of the division lead in the American League Central near the start of the month and have come all the way back to lead the division.

The Detroit Tigers are the ones who blew the seemingly commanding lead, and while they still have one more game left to play along with the Guardians, they no longer control their own destiny.

They will need to win their final game of the season today and have Cleveland lose to win the division.

Regardless, both teams have clinched playoff spots, but the Guardians completed their miraculous run in one of the most unique ways.

Infielder CJ Kayfus came up to bat with the bases loaded and two outs left in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers and got hit by a pitch to drive in the winning run.

The Cleveland Guardians are going to the postseason after drawing a walk-off hit-by-pitch in the ninth. Perfectly emblematic for a team that was left for dead and rode an incredible September to the final AL playoff spot. If they win tomorrow, they will be AL Central champions.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 28, 2025

Teams have won on walk-off hit-by-pitches before, but the chances of it happening to clinch a playoff berth are nearly zero. But the fact that it did happen highlights the magic that it took just to get to that point for Cleveland.

Prior to the two-game skid they were on entering their eventual win against Texas, the team had won 17 of its last 19 games to enter a playoff spot.

The run was more impressive when you acknowledge the fact that the Guardians beat up on Tigers ace Tarik Skubal to win the division tiebreaker.

The Guardians also play today as they finish off their series against the Rangers, so the two teams will find out who won the division very soon.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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