ST. LOUIS — The Cleveland Guardians won their second American League Central championship in three years Saturday, another impressive feat for rookie manager Stephen Vogt.
Cleveland won the title after the second-place Kansas City Royals lost 9-0 to San Francisco. Jose Ramirez and the Guardians had already secured their playoff spot, earning at least an American League wild card Thursday with a 3-2 win over Minnesota at home.
It is the franchise’s fifth division crown since 2016. Cleveland returns to the playoffs for the first time since losing a 2022 AL Division Series to the New York Yankees in five games.
Cleveland entered Saturday’s game needing a win in St. Louis or a loss in Kansas City to clinch the American League Central race. Before the Guardians even got into their night game against the Cardinals, the Royals lost at home late in the afternoon.
On June 25, Kansas City rallied from a 10-game deficit to tie the Guardians for the division lead with a 6–1 victory at Cleveland on August 27. But the Guardians rallied for a 7–5 victory the next day to avoid a four-game sweep.
It marked the start of a seven-game losing streak for the Royals, and the Guardians were pulled away in September.
This is Cleveland’s 12th division crown, all won in the AL Central division since 1995.
Cleveland is in a tight race with the American League East-leading Yankees for the top spot in the American League playoffs. But the Guardians are on the verge of clinching at least second place and a first-round bye.
Last year, in Terry Francona’s final season as manager, Cleveland went 76-86. Vogt, a former All-Star wide receiver, was hired in November with no managerial experience.
This seems like a smart move for now.
Vogt is the fifth Cleveland manager to win at least 90 games in his first full season in charge, joining Francona in 2013, Charlie Manuel in 2000, Al Lopez in 1951 and Tris Speaker in 1920.
Under Vogt, 39, Cleveland has had a surprising start to the season. The team had a nine-game lead in the American League Central and a 51-26 record after beating Baltimore 10-8 on June 25.
