Guardians clinch second AL Central title in three years
ST. LOUIS — The Cleveland Guardians clinched their second American League Central championship in three years Saturday when the second-place Kansas City Royals lost 9-0 to the San Francisco Giants.
José RamÃrez and the Guardians had already secured a postseason berth, locking up at least an AL wild-card spot Thursday with a 3-2 win over Minnesota at home.
Cleveland entered Saturday needing a win at St. Louis or a Kansas City defeat to wrap up the division title. Even before the Guardians got deep into their night game against the Cardinals, the Royals lost at home in a late-afternoon start.
It is Cleveland’s 12th division crown, all coming in the AL Central since 1995.
Cleveland is in a nip-and-tuck race with the AL East-leading New York Yankees for the top seed in the American League playoffs. But the Guardians are close to nailing down at least the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.
NEW YORK — Francisco Lindor wasn’t in the New York Mets’ lineup for the sixth straight game Saturday as he continues to deal with a back injury — and it won’t be the last time he misses a game in 2024.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said the earliest Lindor will return is Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves, meaning he’ll also miss Sunday’s series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies before the club’s off day Monday.
A return Tuesday, however, is far from guaranteed. Lindor on Friday said he received a facet injection in his lower back Thursday to treat the pain in hopes of accelerating the healing. Neither Lindor nor the Mets have specified what exactly is ailing Lindor, only calling it a lower back injury.
Lindor took batting practice Friday for the first time since leaving Sunday’s game in Philadelphia. The session was brief. He also played catch. He returned to the field pregame Saturday for more batting practice and baseball activities.
