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Guardians grab 2-1 ALCS lead – AL Central roundup
The Cleveland Guardians edged the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Thursday to take a 2-1 lead in the ALCS.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: PickALeagueSummary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
The Cleveland Guardians continue to carry the flag for the AL Central this October. On Thursday, they beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 to grab a 2-1 lead in the American League Championship Series, adding another milestone to a season that already saw them finish atop the division at 85-77.
Guardians move in front in the ALCS
As reported by La Presse, Petey Halpin delivered the decisive blow with a two-run home run that pushed Cleveland in front to stay in a tight game. The same report notes that Gavin Williams racked up nine strikeouts over five innings, setting the tone on the mound and giving the Guardians just enough runway to hold off Tampa Bay in the 3-2 victory.
With that result, Cleveland takes control of the series while reinforcing its status as the class of the AL Central after the regular season, finishing ahead of the Minnesota Twins (77-85), Chicago White Sox (84-78), Detroit Tigers (76-86) and Kansas City Royals (69-93).
White Sox: looking back on a surprising season
For the Chicago White Sox, attention has already shifted to the offseason. MLB Trade Rumors points out that Chicago became the first team ever to follow three straight 100-loss seasons with a playoff berth. The White Sox then knocked out the Houston Astros in the Wild Card Series, earning their first postseason series win in roughly two decades. According to the outlet, it all adds up to a season that far exceeded expectations, even if there is a sense the club let an opportunity slip away.
Old Guardians-Rays trade back in the spotlight
Also per MLB Trade Rumors, the ALCS matchup between Cleveland and Tampa Bay has renewed attention on a November 2021 trade between the two franchises. The Guardians sent Junior Caminero to the Rays in exchange for right-hander Tobias Myers, who never threw a big league pitch for Cleveland. The site describes it as one of the more infamous trades in the club’s recent history, a reminder that this playoff run is intertwined with past front-office decisions.
The Tigers, Royals and Twins were all idle on the field, and no notable news emerged around those clubs over the past 24 hours.