The Cleveland Guardians are still in the lead of the American League Central after a weird win over the Kansas City Royals, 12-9.
Not every win over a 162-game season is going to be pretty or go exactly according to plan. However, even an ugly or weird win is a win, and that was the story of the Cleveland Guardians’ victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night, 12-9.
Let’s start with this: the Guardians won, which means they stay on pace and in the driver’s seat in the American League Central race.
Even though the Chicago White Sox won on Friday night, too, Cleveland still maintains its critical one-game lead in the division with two days left in the regular season.
If the season ended today, the Guardians would win the Central and become the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, earning a bye in the Wild Card round and advancing straight to the American League Divisional Series.
Looking a little closer at the events that actually transpired in this game paints a slightly different picture of Cleveland’s outlook, though.
Gavin Williams did not look sharp in his final regular-season tune-up. He only pitched 3.1 innings, allowing four earned runs along the way.
The starter’s command, or lack thereof, is really what stood out in this outing. Williams did strike out four hitters, but also issued four walks, too.
Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams (32) on the mound during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn ImagesWilliams wasn’t the only key piece of the pitching staff to struggle in the series opener. Hunter Gaddis gave up a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, which tied the game at seven runs apiece.
This home run did set up one of the wackiest ending to a game for the Guardians all season long, though.
For as much as Cleveland’s pitchers struggled to find the zone at times, it was nothing compared to the walk fest the Royals put on.
In the top of the ninth inning, Royals pitchers Pearson and Nolan Hoffman combined to throw six walks, which allowed three Cleveland runners to score, without needing to do anything but stand in the box.
Then, Angel Martinez’s two-run RBI double blew the game wide open.
How rare, and honestly lucky, was this frame for the Guardians? The last time Cleveland drew six walks in an inning was on September 10 during the 199 season.
Again, Friday’s win was far from perfect or textbook. However, at this point in the season, a team will take a victory however they can. That said, the Guardians can’t hope or rely on Kansas City’s bullpen struggling again on Saturday.
If Cleveland truly wants to win the division, it needs to take an early lead and hold it on Saturday.
