The White Sox have spent most of the 2026 season sitting on top of the AL Central, and the Guardians have played a part in making that cushion a little more comfortable.
Chicago is trying to reach the postseason for the first time since 2021, and a first-round bye is in play if it can keep Cleveland behind it. As of Wednesday morning, the Guardians trailed by three games. They’ve been hotter lately, going 8-2 over their last 10, while the White Sox are 6-4 in that same stretch.
That gap could shrink or grow depending on how the final month unfolds, and Chicago’s schedule gives it a real chance to keep pushing. Cleveland, meanwhile, has drawn attention for not making a move that could have given its lineup a needed jolt.
“But the White Sox otherwise have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the majors, while the Guardians aren't even being serious in their pursuit of the postseason, opting against using one of their September callup spots on Ralphy Velazquez-who hit .356/.433/.867 with 15 home runs in August-presumably because they want him to continue playing in the minors if there is a lockout, which players cannot do if they are on a 40-man roster,” Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller wrote.
Power has been an issue for Cleveland, and Velazquez would have been a clear answer in that area. Outfielder Angel Martinez leads the Guardians with only 14 home runs.
Even with that hole in the lineup, Chicago still has reasons to feel good about where this race is headed. “Even if Cleveland had promoted its top prospect, though, the White Sox have had astounding staying power with Munetaka Murakami, Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas all on the brink of 30 home runs,” Miller added. “They'll stay ahead, and they'll secure the No. 2 seed.”
In Other News...
Guardians Roster Depth Just Made Two Former Prospects An Afterthought
Clevelands roster churn from earlier this season keeps echoing into September, with two former Guardians prospects now getting fresh looks elsewhere. Juan Brito and Bo Naylor were both sent down in April and then dealt before the trade deadline, moves that signaled how quickly the organizations depth chart had changed around them.
Both players are back in the big leagues with new clubs after making those September rosters, with Naylor joining the Milwaukee Brewers and Brito landing with the Cincinnati Reds. Brito has already made his Reds debut, while Naylor earned his call-up after a productive run in the minors, a reminder that even after leaving Cleveland, both still have a chance to turn their seasons into something more interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Shane Biebers Cleveland Return Brings Back A Lot For Guardians Fans
Shane Biebers return to Progressive Field brought a familiar face back into the Guardians orbit, even if it came in a different uniform. Bieber spent his Cleveland years from 2018 through 2024 before being dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025, and with Toronto in town for a series, he made the trip back with the club despite being injured. For fans who watched him grow into one of the franchises defining arms, seeing him back around the ballpark carried a little extra weight.
Bieber has not been able to pitch while he works through the injury, but the setting still matters for a player whose Cleveland chapter lasted so long. Through 11 outings this season, he has a 4.37 ERA, a reminder that his present in Toronto has not yet matched the certainty he once brought to the Guardians. Even so, the return to Cleveland is the kind of moment that tends to stir memories first and leave the bigger questions for later. [Read more 🡒]
Angel Genao Just Delivered The Spark Cleveland Desperately Needed
Angel Genao has barely had time to settle in with the Guardians, but he already found a way to make himself part of the conversation. In a tight game against the Blue Jays, the recently promoted infielder came off the bench in the seventh inning and delivered a pinch-hit home run that gave Cleveland a needed lift. It was the kind of sudden jolt a club can carry for days, especially with the Wild Card race tightening around every result.
Genaos night did not end with the swing, either. He later turned in a notable defensive play that helped underline why the organization is eager to see what he can do at this level. Cleveland rode the momentum to a win, and for a team trying to gain ground in the playoff chase, a fresh face making an immediate impact is exactly the sort of development that can matter down the stretch. [Read more 🡒]