The Cleveland Guardians lead the 2026 MLB AL Central division race at 81-75, 1 game ahead of the Chicago White Sox.
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AL Central standings, 2026
Team
W
L
Pct
GB
L10
Streak
Magic
Cleveland Guardians (CLE)
81
75
.519
-
7-3
W5
6
Chicago White Sox (CWS)
80
76
.513
1
5-5
W2
E6
Detroit Tigers (DET)e
74
83
.471
7.5
6-4
W1
-
Minnesota Twins (MIN)e
73
84
.465
8.5
4-6
L1
-
Kansas City Royals (KC)e
67
89
.429
14
3-7
L4
-
Through September 21, 2026. A magic number counts what would settle the race. The leader needs that many wins of its own, losses by second place, or any mix of the two. An E number is the same count for a team below, measured against the leader. Reach it and that team's chase is over.
Clinch key
x
clinched a playoff place
w
clinched a wild card place
y
clinched the division
z
clinched the best record in the American League
e
eliminated from the postseason
Turning points
The lead has changed hands 16 times.
The Cleveland Guardians trailed by as many as 6 games on August 16, 2026.
The Cleveland Guardians have led alone since September 18, 2026.
156 games in, only one AL Central race has been closer since 1994.
The magic number is 6: any mix of 6 more wins for the Cleveland Guardians and losses for the Chicago White Sox puts the race beyond reach.
Nobody has gained ground on the Cleveland Guardians since August 22, 2026.
The Kansas City Royals won 9 games in a row from August 16, 2026 to August 25, 2026, the longest run of the race.
The Chicago White Sox led by 5.5 games as late as August 16, 2026.
The Cleveland Guardians have spent 78 of the season's 181 charted days so far in first place.