CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 28: Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) and Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (23) celebrate after the Cleveland Guardians won the 2025 American League Central Division Championship following the Major League Baseball game between the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians on September 28, 2025, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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The Central Division is up for grabs in the next 10 games.
The Cleveland Guardians and the Chicago White Sox are locked in a heated battle for the American League Central Division Championship.
At the start of play September 17, 2026, the Cleveland Guardians hold a half-game lead on the White Sox.
The Guardians have a record of 78-75, with a .510 winning percentage.
The White Sox have a record of 77-75, with a .507 winning percentage.
fangraphs.com lists the Guardians as 59.4% favorites to win the Central Division Crown, and an 80% chance to make the playoffs.
If the Guardians and White Sox are tied at the end of regular season play, based upon the Major League Baseball tiebreaker rules, it would be the White Sox who would win the Central Division.
The White Sox won the season series between Chicago and Cleveland, winning seven of the 13 games played between the two clubs.
All the White Sox had to do was win one game of the recent September 14-16 series with the Guardians to clinch the tiebreaker, which they did. The White Sox won the first of the three games, and lost the last two.
fangraphs.com lists the White Sox having a 40.7% of winning the division, and a 71.4% of making the playoffs.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – MAY 18: A detail of a New Era Cleveland Guardians baseball hat with the logo on top of a glove during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on May 18, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
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Central Division Cleveland Guardians Remaining Schedule:
mlb.com’s Guardians site shows this as the Remaining Schedule for Cleveland Guardians:
Ten games remain:
September 18-20=at home vs. Athletics
September 21= off day
September 22-24=at Boston Red Sox
September 25-27=at Kansas City Royals
KANSAS CITY, MO – JULY 20: A view of a Chicago White Sox ball cap and glove before an MLB game between the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals on July 20, 2024 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Central Division Chicago White Sox Remaining Schedule:
mlb.com‘s White Sox home page shows this as the Remaining Schedule for Chicago White Sox:
Ten games remain:
September 17-20= at home vs. Detroit Tigers
September 21=off day
September 22-24 =at Kansas City Royals
September 25-27=at home vs. Colorado Rockies
Cleveland Guardians, Chicago White Sox Schedule Evaluation:
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 26: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on from the dugout during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 26, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Melina Pizano/Getty Images)
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Central Division Cleveland Guardians Remaining Schedule Particulars:
As was noted by sports.yahoo, “the Guardians face two series against teams that are below .500.”
At the start of play September 17, the Athletics have a 61-90 record, good for 4th place in the American League West. Only the Angels are worse, at 58-93.
The Guardians have a 2-1 record vs the Athletics this year.
At the start of play September 17, the Red Sox have a record of 82-69, or 3rd in the American League East.
The Guardians have a 1-2 record vs. the Red Sox this year.
At the start of play September 17, the Royals have a record of 66-85, last in the American League Central.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 21: Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates after scoring on a Miguel Vargas #20 (not pictured) two run home run against the New York Mets during the sixth inning at Rate Field on August 21, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images)
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Central Division Chicago White Sox Remaining Schedule Particulars:
At the start of play September 17, the White Sox have a 6-3 record playing the Detroit Tigers, who are third in the American League Central.
At the start of play September 17, the Whiter Sox have a 7-3 record playing the Royals, who are last in the American League Central.
At the start of play September 17, the White Sox have not played the Rockies, who are last in the National League West.
Central Division Advantages for Cleveland Guardians or Chicago White Sox?
Throw all the past records against teams out the window.
The final 10 games for Cleveland and Chicago will be nail biters.
Which team’s hitters get hot?
Which team’s pitchers control the opposition best?
Which team’s bullpen comes to the rescue of the tired starters?
Which team gets the momentum and runs with it?
Luck plays a part. Weather plays a part. Game strategy plays a part.
Can the Guardians get José Ramírez up and running, even though he remains in pain from a broken hamate bone?
Can the White Sox see a return to form of slugger Munetaka Murakami?
For this old scout, this is a good, old fashioned pennant race.
The Central Division in the American League could be decided on the final day of the season. The last games.
The final schedules for the Cleveland Guardians and the Chicago White Sox look fairly even.
The Central Division of the American League is up for grabs.
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