Roundup
Cleveland Guardians
Detroit Tigers
Minnesota Twins
Tampa Bay Rays
Pittsburgh Pirates
Baltimore Orioles
Guardians let one slip late, AL Central roundup
The Guardians fall 7-3 at home to the Rays as their series is evened, while the Tigers quietly add left-hander Nick Raquet on a minor league deal.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: PickALeagueSummary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
The Cleveland Guardians missed a chance to take control of their series, dropping a 7-3 decision to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night at Progressive Field. Away from the playoff spotlight, the Detroit Tigers used the day to quietly bolster their pitching depth with a minor league deal for left-hander Nick Raquet.
Guardians’ late-inning stumble evens the series
Paced the AL Central at 85-77, the Guardians couldn’t close things out at home. As reported by La Presse, the Rays broke the game open with a three-run seventh inning, pulling away for a 7-3 road win that knots the series in Cleveland. For the division leaders, it was a reminder of how quickly momentum can swing in October, even in their own ballpark.
Cleveland will now have to regroup quickly after letting a tight game slip away in the late innings. Progressive Field, such a strong backdrop during the regular season, couldn’t slow Tampa Bay’s surge once the Rays’ offense came alive in that pivotal seventh.
Tigers take a flier on lefty Nick Raquet
Sitting at 76-86 in the final AL Central standings, the Detroit Tigers are already looking ahead. According to MLB Trade Rumors, citing 7 News’ Ari Alexander, the club has signed left-hander Nick Raquet to a two-year minor league contract after he became a free agent following his early-September release by the Baltimore Orioles. Alexander notes that the length of the deal reflects Raquet’s health situation, signaling a longer-term depth play for Detroit’s pitching staff.
Quiet day for Twins, White Sox and Royals
Elsewhere in the Central, it was a quiet day on the field and in the news cycle. The Chicago White Sox (84-78), Minnesota Twins (77-85) and Kansas City Royals (69-93) were all idle and did not figure in any major headlines.
On the periphery, MLB Trade Rumors reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates have re-signed outfielder Kyler Fedko to a two-year minor league deal. It’s a footnote with AL Central ties through his connection to the Twins’ organization, even if the move itself belongs squarely in the National League.