Saturday, September 16, 2017

Indians Win Back to Back AL Central Titles; Can They Win Back to Back AL Pennants?

After snapping their 22 game winning streak yesterday, the Cleveland Indians returned to the win column on Saturday with an 8-4 win over the Kansas City Royals to reduce their magic number to clinch the AL Central Division to 1 game. That one game went to zero when the Minnesota Twins fell 7-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays to make the Tribe back to back AL Central winners. Overall, this is their ninth AL Central since 1995.

Assuming the Indians maintain the best record in the AL they would play the winner of the AL Wild Card in the ALDS. At the moment that would be between the Twins and the New York Yankees. However, the Twins have a one game lead on the Los Angeles Angels for the second AL Wild Card spot so this is still very much up in the air with two weeks to go in the regular season.

The Indians are the first AL team to clinch their division. The Houston Astros could clinch the AL West tomorrow with a win over the Seattle Mariners of if the Angels lose to the Texas Rangers. Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox hold a three game lead over the Yankees in the AL East.

But for now the Indians are considered the team to beat in the AL especially if they should go on another winning streak.

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