Cleveland Guardians claim American League Central crown

It was only a matter of time before the inevitable came to fruition. Holding a comfortable lead in the American League Central, the Cleveland Guardians were able to clinch the division on Saturday. This is the fifth time since 2016 that the Guardians have won the AL Central and the 12th time since it was created (1994). Cleveland's chances of accomplishing this feat seemed a little dicey not too long when Kansas City briefly overtook them in the division, but the better team won out in the end, as everyone should have expected.

The Guardians entered this season somewhat of an unknown. 2023 saw everything break the wrong way, which in some way should have been expected, considering 2022 had plenty of things go in their favor. Add in the retirement of future Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona and his successor being a first-time manager in Stephen Vogt, and it appeared to most that the Guardians were going to be in for a long and trying season.

Cleveland was able to spring out of the gate rather quickly, playing at a high level that had them ranked among the best teams in baseball. This is all despite losing Shane Bieber after two starts and a revolving door of faces making appearances in their starting rotation. This team was able to make their pieced-together rotation work, allowing them to only secure a spot in the playoffs but return to their rightful spot atop the AL Central.

There is one more thing to check off for the Guardians before the postseason begins. Securing a first-round bye in the American League playoffs. Being able to properly rest up and set their rotation for the American League Division Series is an absolute must. The Guardians need to be able to enter their first playoff matchup with their best arms pitching early rather than relying on who wasn't used in a Wild Card series. Like clinching the division, securing a first-round bye could come rather quickly.

This is a remarkable achievement for this team, considering how many were counting them out before the season began. Too much stock was being placed into 2023's down year rather than realizing this was a team due for a rebound. Picking anyone but the Guardians to win the AL Central was the popular selection to make, but as this organization has shown plenty of times before, counting out the best-run sports franchise in Cleveland is something that should not be done.