Cleveland clinches playoff spot on walk-off hit-by-pitch

Cleveland’s playoff summons arrived successful the strangest way. With 2 outs successful the ninth and the bases loaded Saturday, CJ Kayfus took a fastball disconnected his limb from Rangers reliever Robert Garcia, forcing location Petey Halpin for a 3–2 triumph and a postseason berth. According to Elias Sports Bureau, it is the archetypal clip since astatine slightest 1920 that a squad has clinched a playoff spot connected a walk-off hit-by-pitch. “When they walked [Gabriel] Arias to load the bases, I knew I had a occupation to do,” said Kayfus. “I was going to get that occupation done 1 mode oregon another, but I decidedly didn’t deliberation it was going to beryllium similar that.”

From 10 consecutive losses to October

Manager Stephen Vogt said successful aboriginal July, astatine the extent of a 10-game skid, that things would turn. They did much than that. The Guardians (86–74) became conscionable the 4th MLB club—and the archetypal successful the American League—to scope the postseason aft a 10-game losing streak, joining the 2017 Dodgers, 1982 Braves, and 1951 Giants. FanGraphs had Cleveland astatine 2.9% to marque the playoffs and 0.2% to triumph the AL Central connected September 1. “Of course, we’re going to get successful connected a walk-off deed by pitch,” a soaked Vogt said. “I couldn’t beryllium much arrogant of these guys.”

Contributions came from beyond stars Steven Kwan and José Ramírez. Johnathan Rodriguez, recalled aft David Fry was deed by a pitch, homered successful his archetypal at-bat Wednesday. Since July 7, Cleveland is an AL-best 47–26. The surge included overcoming an 11-game September shortage to drawback Detroit, portion of a period that featured a 10-game triumph streak and a expanse successful Detroit.

What it means for the AL Central

Cleveland and Detroit stay tied atop the part aft the Tigers bushed Boston 2–1. If the clubs decorativeness Sunday inactive even, the Guardians instrumentality the AL Central connected the season-series tiebreaker (8–5) and would big a wild-card bid starting Tuesday. The tally came contempt midseason turbulence, with reliever Emmanuel Clase and starter Luis Ortiz placed connected permission amid gambling probes. “There were times this looked acold away,” president Chris Antonetti said. “Our radical was ne'er daunted.”