The Guardians have a 10-game lead and are the only team in the division over .500. If anybody predicted this on Sep. 4, when we were tied with Minnesota and one game up on the White Sox they'd have been laughed off the board.
When we went to bed on Sep. 4 the Guardians had just lost five in a row at home to Baltimore and Seattle by scores of 4-0, 3-0, 6-1, 4-0, and 6-3. The combined score was 23-4. They looked like the Little Engine that finally ran out of steam when they ran into teams that featured pitching and power.
But the next series was in Kansas City and the G's got their mojo back, winning 18 of the last 21. The three games they lost were started by Hunter Gaddis (1) and Cody Morris (2) - guys who spent most of the season in Columbus. The last time we lost a game that was started by a member of the regular rotation was over three weeks ago.
The White Sox have lost six in a row, including getting swept by Detroit at home this weekend. They've scored 10 runs in their last five games. They appear to be just going through the motions.
Their last nine games consist of six against Minnesota and three on the road against San Diego. The Padres are fighting for a wild card spot and need to win. The Sox could easily lose six of their last nine or even more. Talk about crumbling.
The Twins have lost 9 of 11 and are five games under .500. They're also going through the motions.
This is a September nobody could have predicted.
