The Cleveland Guardians’ September rise from baseball’s graveyard to holding a playoff spot has been shocking, amazing and hard to believe.
It’s just as difficult making sense of the Detroit Tigers collapsing from the best record in the American League to maybe missing the playoffs.
The hottest and coldest clubs in the majors kept going in opposite directions on Saturday when the Guardians won a day-night doubleheader with two shutout victories in Minnesota and the Tigers lost at home to the Braves after leading in the ninth inning with two outs and two strikes
The Guardians, who beat the Twins 6-0 by day and 8-0 by night, have won 10 in a row to move into the third AL wild-card spot and get within a game of the Tigers for first place in the AL Central.
The Tigers, who were 6-5 losers on Saturday, have dropped five in a row and eight of nine. They had a 14-game division lead in July and were up 10 games after beating the Mets on Sept. 3.
The Guardians are tied with the Astros for the last wild card, but they won the season series and thus would get the spot if the teams finish with the same record.
This week, the Guardians play the Tigers three times in Cleveland.
Elsewhere …
In Houston, Cal Raleigh hit his 57th to pass Ken Griffey Jr. for a new Mariners single-season record in a 6-4 win over the Astros that has them two games ahead of Houston for first in the AL Central. The Mariners’ win also clinched a season-series win and the tiebreaker over the Astros, who would miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016 if they began on Sunday.
In Baltimore, Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run homer in the first inning to reach 450 for his career in a 6-1 Yankees win over the Orioles that left them two games behind the AL East-leading Blue Jays and two ahead of the Red Sox for the first AL wild card.
In Kansas City, Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino hit back-to-back homers in the fourth inning of a 2-1 Royals win over the Blue Jays, who have lost four in a row.
In New York, rookie outfielder Daylen Lile hit a two-run, inside-the-park homer in the 11th inning and the Nationals held on for a 5-3 win over the Mets, whose wild-card lead over the Reds dropped to one game.
In Cincinnati, Spencer Steer hit his fourth homer in fourth games and the wild-card hopeful Reds beat the Cubs 6-3 for a fourth win in a row.
In Phoenix, Ildemaro Vargas’ single broke a sixth-inning tie and the Diamondbacks held on for a 4-3 win over the Phillies to pull two games behind the Mets in the chase for the last NL wild card.
In Tampa, Trevor Story’s single broke a tie in a three-run ninth inning for the Red Sox, who doubled up the Rays 6-3 to secure sole possession of the second AL wild-card spot. Boston is a game up on the Astros and Guardians.
In Milwaukee, Brice Turang singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning of a 3-2 Brewers win over the Cardinals that reduced their magic number to one for a three-peat in the NL Central.
In Los Angeles, Shohei Ohtani hit homer No. 53 homer to tie the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber for the NL lead in a 7-5 Dodgers win over the Giants. The Dodgers stayed three games ahead of the Padres for first in the NL West.
In Chicago, Jackson Merrill homered and Ryan O’Hearn hit a three-run double in a 7-3 Padres win over the White Sox. San Diego is four games up on the Mets for the second NL wild card.
Here’s a look at magic numbers plus the remaining schedules and tiebreakers for the contenders through Saturday, Sept. 20 along with playoff matchups if the postseason began on Sunday, Sept. 21:
AL EAST
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (89-66)
Standings: First in AL East. Lead second-place Yankees by 2 games.
Tiebreakers: Blue Jays won season series with Yankees 8-5; Blue Jays won season series with Mariners 4-2; Blue Jays trail season series with Astros 3-1. Blue Jays won season series with Tigers 4-3.
Magic number to clinch AL East: 5
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 3
Games remaining: 7 (6 home, 1 road).
Blue Jays schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: at Royals, 2:10 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Red Sox, 7:07 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Red Sox, 7:07 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: Red Sox, 7:07 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Rays, 7:07 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Rays, 3:07 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Rays, 3:07 p.m., EST
NEW YORK YANKEES (87-68)
Standings: Second in AL East. Trail first-place Blue Jays by 2 games. First in AL wild-card standings. Lead Guardians and Astros by 3 games for third wild card.
Tiebreakers: Yankees lost season series with Blue Jays 8-5; Yankees lost season series with Red Sox 9-4; Yankees tied season series with Astros 3-3; Yankees won season series with Mariners 5-1; Yankees lost season series with Tigers 4-2; Yankees tied season series with Guardians 3-3, but lose tiebreaker on division record.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 5
Games remaining: 7 (6 home, 1 road).
Yankees schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: at Orioles, 1:35 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: White Sox, 7:05 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: White Sox, 7:05 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: White Sox, 7:05 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Orioles, 7:05 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Orioles, 1:05 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Orioles, 3:05 p.m., EST
BOSTON RED SOX (85-70)
Standings: Third in AL East. Trail first-place Blue Jays by 4 games. Second in AL wild-card standings. Lead Guardians and Astros by 1 game for 3rd AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Red Sox won season series with Yankees 9-4; Red Sox tied season series with Mariners 3-3; Red Sox won season series with Astros 4-2.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 7
Games remaining: 7 (3 home, 4 road).
Red Sox schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: at Rays, 7:35 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: at Blue Jays, 7:07 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: at Blue Jays, 7:07 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: at Blue Jays, 7:07 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Tigers, 7:10 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Tigers, 4:10 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Tigers, 3:05 p.m., EST
AL CENTRAL
DETROIT TIGERS (85-70)
Standings: First in AL Central. Lead second-place Guardians by 1 game.
Tiebreakers: Tigers trail season series with Guardians 6-4; Tigers lost season series with Mariners 4-2; Tigers lost season series with Blue Jays 4-3; Tigers won season series with Yankees 4-2; Tigers won season series with Astros 4-2.
Magic number to clinch AL Central: 7
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 7
Remaining games: 7 (1 home, 6 road).
Tigers schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: Braves, 1:40 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: at Guardians, 6:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: at Guardians, 6:40 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: at Guardians, 6:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: at Red Sox, 4:10 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: at Red Sox, 3:05 p.m., EST
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (84-71)
Standings: Second in AL Central. Trail first-place Tigers by 1 game. Tied with Astros for third in AL wild-card standings. Guardians have tiebreaker.
Tiebreakers: Guardians lead season series with Tigers 6-4; Guardians lost season series with Mariners 4-2; Guardians won season series with Astros 4-2.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 7
Remaining games: 7 (6 home, 1 road).
Guardians schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: at Twins, 2:10 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Tigers, 6:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Tigers, 6:40 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: Tigers, 6:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Rangers, 7:10 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Rangers, 6:10 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Rangers, 3:10 p.m., EST
AL WEST
SEATTLE MARINERS (86-69)
Standings: First in AL West. Lead Astros by 2 games.
Tiebreakers: Mariners lead season series with Astros 7-5; Mariners won season series with Tigers 4-2; Mariners won season series with Guardians 4-2.
Magic number to clinch AL West: 6
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 6
Remaining games: 7 (6 home, 1 road).
Mariners schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: at Astros, 7:10 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Rockies, 9:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Rockies, 9:40 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: Rockies, 9:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Dodgers, 9:40 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Dodgers, 9:40 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Dodgers, 3:10 p.m., EST
HOUSTON ASTROS (84-71)
Standings: Second in AL West. Trail first-place Mariners by 2 games. Tied with Guardians for third in AL wild card standings. Guardians have tiebreaker.
Tiebreakers: Astros trail season series with Mariners 7-5; Astros lost season series with Red Sox 4-2; Astros lost season series with Guardians 4-2; Astros lost season series with Tigers 4-2.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 7
Remaining games: 7 (1 home, 6 road).
Astros schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: Mariners, 7:10 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: at Athletics, 10:05 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: at Athletics, 10:05 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: at Athletics, 3:35 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: at Angels, 9:38 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: at Angels, 9:38 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: at Angels, 3:07 p.m., EST
NL EAST
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (92-63)
Standings: First in NL East. Lead second-place Mets by 12 games.
Tiebreakers: Phillies won season series with Dodgers 4-2; Phillies lost season series with Brewers 4-2.
Magic number to clinch NL East: Clinched Sept. 15.
Remaining games: 7 (6 home, 1 road).
Phillies schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: at Diamondbacks, 1:40 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Marlins, 6:45 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Marlins, 6:45 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: Marlins, 6:05 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Twins, 7:45 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Twins, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Twins, 3:05 p.m., EST
NEW YORK METS (80-75)
Standings: Second in NL East. Trail first-place Phillies by 12 games. Third in NL wild-card standings. Lead Reds by 1 game for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Mets won season series with Giants 4-2; Mets lost season series with Reds 4-2; Mets tied season series with Diamondbacks 3-3.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 7
Remaining games: 7 (1 home, 6 road).
Mets schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: Nationals, 1:40 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: at Cubs, 7:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: at Cubs, 8:05 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: at Cubs, 7:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: at Marlins, 7:10 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: at Marlins, 4:10 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: at Marlins, 3:10 p.m., EST
NL CENTRAL
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (95-60)
Standings: First in NL Central. Lead second-place Cubs by 7 games.
Tiebreakers: Brewers lost season series with Cubs 7-6; Brewers won season series with Phillies 4-2.
Magic number to clinch NL Central: 1
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched on Sept. 13.
Remaining games: 7 (3 home, 4 road).
Brewers schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: at Cardinals, 2:15 p.m., EST
Monday, Sept. 22: at Padres, 9:40 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: at Padres, 9:10 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: at Padres, 4:10 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Reds, 8:10 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Reds, 7:10 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Reds, 3:10 p.m., EST
CHICAGO CUBS (88-67)
Standings: Second in NL Central. Trail first-place Brewers by 7 games. First in NL wild-card standings. Lead Reds by 9 games for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Cubs won season series with Brewers 7-6; Cubs tied season series with Padres 3-3.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 16.
Remaining games: 7 (6 home, 1 road).
Cubs schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: at Reds, 11:40 a.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Mets, 7:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Mets, 8:05 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: Mets, 7:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Cardinals, 2:20 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Cardinals, 2:20 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Cardinals, 3:20 p.m., EST
CINCINNATI REDS (79-76)
Standings: Third in NL Central. Trail first-place Brewers by 16 games. Fourth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Mets by 1 game for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Reds won season series with Mets 4-2; Reds tied season series with Giants 3-3; Reds won season series with Diamondbacks 4-2.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 7
Remaining games: 7 (4 home, 3 road).
Reds schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: Cubs, 1:40 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Pirates, 6:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Pirates, 6:40 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: Pirates, 12:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: at Brewers, 8:10 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: at Brewers, 7:10 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: at Brewers, 3:10 p.m., EST
NL WEST
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (88-67)
Standings: First in NL West. Lead second-place Padres by 4 games.
Tiebreakers: Dodgers won season series with Padres 9-4; Dodgers lost season series with Phillies 4-2; Dodgers lost season series with Brewers 6-0.
Magic number to clinch NL West: 3
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 19.
Remaining games: 7 (1 home, 6 road).
Dodgers schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: Giants, 4:10 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: at Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: at Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: at Diamondbacks, 3:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: at Mariners, 9:40 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: at Mariners, 9:40 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: at Mariners, 3:10 p.m., EST
SAN DIEGO PADRES (84-71)
Standings: Second in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 4 games. Second in NL wild-card standings. Lead Reds by 5 games for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Padres lost season series with Dodgers 9-4; Padres won season series with Mets 4-2; Padres tied season series with Phillies 3-3.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 3
Remaining games: 7 (6 home, 1 road).
Padres schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: at White Sox, 2:10 p.m., EST
Monday, Sept. 22: Brewers, 9:40 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Brewers, 9:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Brewers, 4:10 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Diamondbacks, 8:40 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Diamondbacks, 3:10 p.m., EST
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (78-77)
Standings: Third in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 10 games. Fifth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Mets by 2 games for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Diamondbacks tied season series with Mets 3-3; Diamondbacks won season series with Giants 7-6; Diamondbacks lost season series with Reds 4-2.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 6
Remaining games: 7 (4 home, 3 road).
Diamondbacks schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: Phillies, 4:10 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Dodgers, 9:40 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Dodgers, 9:40 p.m., EST
Thursday, Sept. 25: Dodgers, 3:40 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: at Padres, 9:40 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: at Padres, 8:40 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: at Padres, 3:10 p.m., EST
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (76-79)
Standings: Fourth in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 12 games. Sixth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Mets by 4 games for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Giants lost season series with Diamondbacks 7-6; Giants tied season series with Reds 3-3.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 4
Remaining games: 7 (6 home, 1 road).
Giants schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 21: at Dodgers, 4:10 p.m., EST
Monday, Sept. 23: Cardinals, 9:45 p.m., EST
Tuesday, Sept. 24: Cardinals, 9:45 p.m., EST
Wednesday, Sept. 25: Cardinals, 9:45 p.m., EST
Friday, Sept. 26: Rockies, 10:15 p.m., EST
Saturday, Sept. 27: Rockies, 4:05 p.m., EST
Sunday, Sept. 28: Rockies, 3:05 p.m., EST
POSTSEASON MATCHUPS
AL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Blue Jays (1), Mariners (2), byes
Guardians (6) at Tigers (3)
Red Sox (5) at Yankees (4)
NL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Brewers (1), Phillies (2), byes
Mets (6) at Dodgers (3)
Padres (5) at Cubs (4)
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