Tigers' Tuesday loss to Guardians clinched something that once felt unthinkable

The story of the 2025 AL Central race has technically yet to be decided, even if it feels like the Detroit Tigers are currently trying to combat a high-velocity boulder rolling down a greased hill. After Tuesday night's low-point loss in Cleveland, though, one depressing reality has been clinched. It may not be too late to save the season, but it's certainly too late to dodge an embarrassing fate that seemed impossible as recently as a week ago.

The Guardians' 5-2 win drew the two teams even in the standings, and officially clinched the season series for Cleveland. If both teams split the final two of the series, then each sweep their three-game conclusions to the campaign (or get swept), they'll end up with the same records — and the Guardians will hoist the banner, by virtue of winning the season series (7-4 with two games remaining).

On the morning of Sept. 11, with six games left to be played between Detroit and Cleveland (and the season series sitting at 4-3 in favor of the Tigers), there was a 9.5-game gap between the clubs. The Guardians were coming off a moribund 4-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals (who seemed like just as much of a playoff threat at the time). The Tigers were fresh off running all over the Yankees' bullpen in consecutive meltdowns.

Cleveland winning four straight head-to-head? Seemed possible; after all, there was a world where the Tigers would've already wrapped up the Central by the time the first series started. They might even be resting guys.

Cleveland clinching the season series and it mattering deeply for playoff qualification? Impossible. Unfathomable. And yet, the moment has arrived.

Detroit Tigers officially lose season series to Cleveland Guardians, crucial MLB Playoffs tiebreaker

Tarik Skubal will appear one more time before the regular season concludes, but the Tigers have already lost two of his starts to Cleveland during this nightmare stretch, a swing that contributed to the clinch as much as anything.

Detroit still has time to steer out of the skid, but the time left on the clock will not allow them to erase the misery. It will only allow for the most partial possible recovery, and survival by the tip of a fingernail.

And, if the two teams end up knotted, that fingernail's edge will go to the Guardians. That we know.