Kayfus delivered a 425-foot go-ahead homer in the eighth, lifting Cleveland to a 3-2 win over Kansas City and keeping their playoff hopes alive in a tense chase for the final AL wild card.

The Guardians leaned on the bottom of the order, with Bo Naylor starting the late-inning rally and Kayfus finishing it, as Steven Kwan, Jose Ramírez and Kyle Manzardo supplied key support. With Seattle and Texas still nipping at the margin, this win mattered as much for momentum as standings.

Cleveland’s playoff push intensifies as Ramirez carries the offense. Ramirez homered again, flirting with a scorching September line (.407 in seven games; 8 RBIs, 2 HR). The Guardians have leaned on a pitching staff that’s quieted teams, yielding two runs or fewer in six of seven and getting six-plus innings from starters in five straight. A five-game win streak has them 2.5 games back of the AL wild-card with 18 to play, staring down AL Central foes and a Rangers squad in the chase.

Guardians sit 73-70, three games back of Seattle for the AL Wild Card, shifting focus to the offseason. Cleveland targets Cedric Mullins to anchor the lineup around Jose Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo, hoping for a rebound in power and on-base skills. Bleacher Report envisions Mullins as the 6th hitter in a 2026 Opening Day setup that also features Travis Bazzana and Steven Kwan atop Ramirez and Manzardo, creating a deeper, more dynamic order. Mullins’ 2025 power streaks and speed could pay off if his bat returns, but the cost must match the upside.

Beside Mullins, the Guardians anticipate a youth infusion with Bazzana in the mix, while Manzardo and Kwan form a formidable top four that should drive offense. The bottom of the order will decide Cleveland’s fate, as Mullins must provide enough pop and consistency to validate a signing. In short, Cleveland bets on offense to finally translate Ramirez’s peak years into a playoff chase.