Cleveland Indians: Clinching top spot in AL the main goal this week

The Cleveland Indians are one week away from the postseason, but there is still some business to take care of in the regular season.

The Cleveland Indians enter play today with a two-game lead over the Houston Astros for the top spot in the American League. With six games to play and the advantage in the case of a tie, the Indians are in great shape.

I say that with the assumption that the Indians will continue playing at the rate that has resulted in 29 wins in the past 31 games, but things may be a bit difficult against the Minnesota Twins.

The Twins are 16 games behind the Indians in the AL Central, but are still fighting for a Wild Card spot. They are five games up over the Los Angeles Angels and about to clinch that second Wild Card spot, but it has not been decided just yet.

So while the Indians come home in the midst of a historic stretch, they cannot let up against a Twins team preparing for the postseason after finishing the year with the worst record in the league one year ago.

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I doubt the Indians would let up one bit, or if it is even possible for this team to let up given all the talent on the roster.

But a few losses could derail all the momentum built up to this point and the progress made in surpassing the Astros in the standings.

Fans are holding out hope of winning the top spot in all of baseball, but the Dodgers seem to have woken up and enter today with a record of 100-57 along with a better head-to-head record against the Indians this season.

The goal right now should be to just win out, which takes care of all the problems. Even winning four of the final six would hold off the Astros.

As I’ve written for the past month, I won’t even try to predict how this week will turn out. Any doubts I have had have been erased by a historic winning streak, while any bold claims have been silenced by the memories from a year ago.

Next: Indians remain at No. 1

It is best to focus on the next goal ahead, and right now that is gaining home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs.