Red Sox-Cubs doubleheader could have huge impact on Guardians’ postseason standing 

Last night the Guardians clinched their third straight postseason berth thanks to a 1-0 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

But now they’re going to be rooting for the Red Sox to win at least one game in today’s doubleheader against the Cubs at Fenway. 

While the Guardians know they’re going to be playing in the postseason in some capacity, their seeding and opponent are still very much up in the air. That said, that picture could get a little clearer later today so long as the Red Sox take care of business in at least one game of their doubleheader later today against the Cubs.

If the Red Sox win at least one game in that doubleheader, the Guardians will officially be locked into the bottom of the American League’s postseason picture. 

If that’s the case they’ll either host the ALDS as the American League Central champion and No. 2 seed or they’ll travel to face the American League West winner as the AL No. 6 seed. 

But there’s one more complication that could enter the fray if the Red Sox lose out. 

Here’s how it works: If Boston loses out, the Guardians go 2-1 this week and the White Sox win out, all three teams would finish with an 85-77 record. That would push the White Sox ahead of Cleveland in the American League Central while also pushing the Guardians ahead of the Red Sox in the Wild Card standings. 

That means the Guardians would “earn” the No. 5 seed, and would have to go to New York to take on the Yankees in the Wild Card series. 

While the Guardians would be a higher seed, that would make their postseason journey a  lot more tougher since they’d have to go through the Yankees and Rays to make the American League Championship Series, as opposed to the bottom of the bracket where they’d have to face off against some combination of the White Sox, Astros and Rangers. 

Who says the final weekend of the season is meaningless? 

The Guardians need the Red Sox to win at least one game in their series against the Cubs

If you think it’s odd that the Red Sox are playing a doubleheader at this point in the season, you’re right. 

Their series against the Cubs was initially scheduled to be a normal three-game series against the Cubs at Fenway, but that plan got thrown out the window thanks to a serious nor’easter that’s bearing down on the New England area. 

Along with having their doubleheader later today, MLB is also considering moving at least one of the games in the series to Tropicana Field, which will be vacant thanks to the Rays finishing their season on the road. 

It may not be an ideal situation for the Red Sox (and, by the transitive property, the Guardians), but it’s also not ideal for the Cubs. Chicago manager Craig Counsell has already said as much. 

But even if the Red Sox drop both of their games against the Cubs today, the best way the Guardians can make all of this a moot point is by winning out since they have a one-game lead over the White Sox. 

There’s still a lot that needs to be settled with the Guardians’ postseason run, but they cleared the biggest hurdle last night by clinching a postseason berth. 

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