Guardians can clinch Thursday at Fenway, but White Sox keep pressure on AL Central race

Cleveland arrived at Fenway Park on Wednesday with a chance to move closer to a celebration. Sonny Gray and the Red Sox made the Guardians wait.

Boston won 1-0, ending Cleveland’s six-game winning streak. The Guardians managed five singles and did not advance a runner past second base. Foster Griffin kept the game close, but Andruw Monasterio’s sixth-inning RBI single proved decisive.

The loss did not take Cleveland’s future out of its own hands. It did make Thursday’s final meeting with Boston more important.

After Texas lost to the Mets on Wednesday, the Guardians moved into position to clinch a postseason berth with a win over the Red Sox on Thursday, according to MLB’s Cleveland report. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. ET.

Cleveland has four regular-season games remaining. It holds a one-game lead over the White Sox in the AL Central, so clinching a berth and clinching the division are separate matters.

That distinction changes the urgency. A wild-card place would extend the season, but the division title would determine Cleveland’s route through the bracket. Chicago also owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Guardians. If the clubs finish level, Cleveland cannot count on a tie to protect its lead.

MORE: Cubs’ playoff countdown gets complicated by Kevin Gausman injury and Boston weather

Griffin allowed 10 hits over six innings but kept Boston to one run. He struck out seven without issuing a walk. It was a performance capable of winning on a night when his lineup produced more.

The Guardians could not find the extra-base hit or sustained rally they needed. Gray allowed four singles over six shutout innings, and Boston’s bullpen completed the shutout. Cleveland hitters struck out nine times.

Manager Stephen Vogt said after the game that the Guardians still control their destiny. He is right, but the phrase comes with a practical requirement: win games before the White Sox can erase the gap.

Thursday offers Cleveland a chance to secure its place in October at Fenway Park. The final weekend will determine whether that place comes with an AL Central title attached.