The Cleveland Guardians secured their second AL Central championship in three years after the Kansas City Royals suffered a 9-0 defeat against the San Francisco Giants. The Guardians, led by José Ramírez, had already clinched a postseason berth by securing at least an American League wild card spot with a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins earlier in the week.
Needing either a win against the St. Louis Cardinals or a Kansas City loss to seal the division title, Cleveland's fate was decided even before their game against the Cardinals progressed significantly, as the Royals fell to the Giants in a late-afternoon matchup.
