Guardians Secure Second AL Central Title in Three Years

ST. LOUIS — The Cleveland Guardians are celebrating their second American League Central title in three years after the Kansas City Royals lost a crucial game this past Saturday. This milestone marks an impressive achievement for rookie manager Stephen Vogt, who has successfully guided the team through the season.

Despite a subsequent 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Guardians kicked off the festivities with a champagne celebration in the clubhouse. “This is about the players,” said Vogt, enjoying a celebratory cigar. “The players drive it. This is who they are.”

Vogt highlighted the importance of understanding his team’s dynamics and maximizing their strengths to foster success. He expressed pride in his players, stating, “I love those guys.”

Cleveland secured the division title after the Royals fell decisively to the San Francisco Giants, losing 9-0. The Guardians had previously assured themselves a postseason spot by beating the Minnesota Twins 3-2, creating reason for celebration earlier in the week.

“Our goal is always to try to find ways to get to days like today because we want to win a World Series,” said Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti. “The only way you win the World Series is to pop champagne to get there,” he added, noting the difficult decisions made throughout the season aimed at achieving postseason success.

This division title marks the fifth for the franchise since 2016 and signifies a return to the playoffs after a brief hiatus following their loss to the New York Yankees in the 2022 AL Division Series.

Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan reflected on the team’s journey, stating, “I remember ‘22 like it was yesterday. I thought I was going to be prepared for what it was, but a packed house at Progressive, it’s just different. I’m really excited for what’s about to come up.”

After a challenging June where Kansas City was 10 games behind, the Royals managed to tie the Guardians for the division lead with a 6-1 victory in August. In a pivotal moment, however, Cleveland bounced back to win the following game, stopping a potential Royals’ four-game sweep.

“You can kind of understand the dynamics of it going into it, but we have no choice but to just understand we have to win every single day,” Kwan said, emphasizing the importance of focus throughout the grueling 162-game season.

This marks the Guardians’ 12th division title, all earned in the AL Central since the league’s realignment in 1995. Antonetti praised the team’s resilience and camaraderie, noting their dedication through every game this season.

“The resilience that the group has shown, how much they care about each other, and the way they’ve played until the final out is commendable,” he remarked about the team’s environment.

Currently, the Guardians are embroiled in a tight race with the New York Yankees for the top seed in the American League playoffs. They are nearing a lock for at least the No. 2 seed, which would provide them a first-round bye.

Last season, Cleveland finished with a 76-86 record during Terry Francona’s final year as manager. Following his departure, Vogt was appointed despite lacking managerial experience. His early success has reignited optimism for the franchise.

“He’s embraced learning from day one,” said Antonetti. “He’s leaned into the job, trying to learn and improve every single day. He started off great, and he’s only built on that from there.”

Under Vogt’s leadership, the Guardians began the season with surprising momentum, once boasting a nine-game lead in the division and a remarkable 51-26 record as of June 25 following a victory against the Baltimore Orioles.

As the Guardians prepare for their return to the playoffs, the energy in the clubhouse indicates a team ready to seize their moment on the postseason stage.