Cleveland clinched a wild-card berth in dramatic fashion as Johnathan Rodríguez punctuated the rally with a two-run homer, and a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch kept the pressure on after Arias was intentionally walked to reach Kayfus. Cantillo delivered a bright spot on the mound, while Cade Smith cemented the closer role in a pivotal late-season push. The Guardians head to a division-deciding game with the Rangers, where Logan Allen faces Patrick Corbin in a must-win scenario.

The late-inning sequence underscored Cleveland's surprising turn-around this season: from rough stretches to cohesive depth up and down the lineup, bullpen strength, and clutch hitting fueling a playoff chase that keeps escalating as the schedule tightens. Fantasy managers should watch the bullpen and the top-of-the-order bats as Cleveland aims to extend its momentum into October.