AL Central standings, explained: Updated Tigers, Guardians playoff chances and tiebreakers for 2025 MLB bracket

The AL Central wasn't even remotely a competition just weeks ago. But all of a sudden, the Cleveland Guardians have made things fascinating.

While the Detroit Tigers have long held the American League's best record throughout the 2025 season, they've struggled mightily as the postseason nears. A team that was once cruising toward a second-straight playoff berth proceeded to go 26-37 (.413) from July 9 through Sept. 22; on the other hand, the Guardians have caught fire with a 15-2 stretch from Sept. 5-22. 

Cleveland, which once trailed by 15.5 games in the AL Central, has cut its huge deficit to seriously threaten stealing the division from Detroit. If the Guardians can pull off the comeback, it would mark the largest deficit any team has ever overcome to win its division since 1969, per MLB.com.

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Wild-card contention remains a possibility for either the Tigers or Guardians as well, but the teams will playing their final week of the season eyeing the division title. So it's only right that fans get three more Detroit vs. Cleveland matchups — starting Tuesday, the squads will meet in a series that will have massive implications on the AL playoff bracket.

Will the Tigers hold on after a late-season scare? Can the Guardians, who were under .500 just weeks ago, pull off one of the most improbable comebacks MLB has ever seen?

The Sporting News is tracking the AL Central race as the 2025 season winds down. Follow along below for a breakdown of the Tigers and Guardians' chances and magic numbers.

MORE: Tracking the full 2025 MLB playoff picture

AL Central playoff picture

Standings updated through Sept. 22 games.

AL Central standings

1. Tigers, 85-71 (.545)
2. Guardians, 84-72 (.538), 1.0 GB
3. Royals, 78-78 (.500), ELIMINATED
4. Twins, 67-89 (.429), ELIMINATED
5. White Sox, 58-98 (.372), ELIMINATED

Entering the three-game series between Detroit and Cleveland, the Tigers are still holding on to a very slim lead in the division. However, their recent collapse, along with the Guardians' surge, has pushed it to the point that the winner of the series will control their own destiny in the AL Central.

Tigers magic number

Because the Tigers are in still command of the division, they do have a magic number. Detroit needs a combination of six wins or Guardians losses to clinch the AL Central.

The teams will play a three-game series from Sept. 23-25, so the winner of the series will have a massive upper-hand in the division. If the Tigers sweep the Guardians in the series, they will clinch the division.

Guardians magic number

The Guardians do not lead the AL Central, so they do not currently have a magic number for the division. Cleveland's elimination number in the division is six.

However, the Guardians remain in wild-card contention regardless of their AL Central standing; the loser of the Tigers vs. Guardians series may still have a shot at a wild-card position. 

MORE: Tracking the 2025 home-run race between Cal Raleigh, Kyle Schwarber and more

MLB wild-card standings

Standings updated through Sept. 22.

• WC1: Yankees, 88-68 (.564), +4.0
• WC2: Red Sox, 85-71 (.545), +1.0
• WC3: Guardians, 84-72 (.538)
• —
• Astros, 84-72 (.538), 0.0 GB
• Rangers, 79-77 (.506), 5.0 GB
• Royals, 78-78 (.500), 6.0 GB
• Rays, 76-80 (.487), ELIMINATED
• Athletics, 73-83 (.468), ELIMINATED
• Orioles, 73-83 (.468), ELIMINATED
• Angels, 70-86 (.449), ELIMINATED
• Twins, 67-89 (.429), ELIMINATED
• White Sox, 58-98 (.372), ELIMINATED

* Indicates clinched postseason berth

While the Guardians still have a shot in the AL Central, they currently hold the tiebreaker over the Houston Astros for the WC3 spot in the AL.

Whichever squad between Cleveland and Detroit that cannot pull out the division will likely be attempting to claim one of the two wild-card spots up for grabs alongside the Boston Red Sox and Astros.

Guardians vs. Tigers tiebreaker

The first playoff tiebreaker for two teams in MLB is the teams’ head-to-head record. As of Sept. 23, the Guardians own the tiebreaker over the Tigers with a 6-4 head-to-head record.

Because Cleveland and Detroit will play an odd amount of games this season (13 total), there will be no need for a second tiebreaker. The Tigers can only claim the tiebreaker if they sweep the Guardians from Sept. 23-25.