MLB Baseball
2025-09-26 - Texas Rangers at Cleveland Guardians
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : MLB Baseball
Friday 26th August 2025 - Scheduled 7:10pm
12:10am (British Time)
Preview
The final series of the regular season in the 2025 Major League Baseball year will be played across this weekend.
The Playoff Bracket in the National League looks to have largely taken shape- the Milwaukee Brewers are 2 games clear of the Philadelphia Phillies for the Number 1 Seed in the League and both are going to be given Byes through to the Divisional Round. The Chicago Cubs are 2 games clear of the San Diego Padres and are expected to host the Wild Card Series between the teams next week, while the Los Angeles Dodgers will host either the New York Mets or Cincinnati Reds in the other Series.
Things are much different in the American League.
While the Seattle Mariners are set for a Bye through to the Divisional Round, they are still in a position where they could chase down the Number 1 Seed.
However, the real intrigue is at the top of the American League East and Central Divisions which have shared leads ahead of the final three games of the season.
The Cleveland Guardians (86-73) may have been on the brink of securing the Central Division, but they dropped the last of a three game set with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. That means the Guardians are leading the Division on the tie-breaker, but only winning out will guarantee a place in the Playoffs and the chance to host the opening Wild Card Series.
The Guardians have won eleven of the last thirteen games, which included beating the Detroit Tigers five times in a row before the loss on Thursday. While they have been motoring, the Tigers have slumped, and Cleveland have control of their own destiny.
They are hosting a series with the Texas Rangers (80-79) who have seen the injuries pile up and have lost nine of their last ten games. That meant elimination was confirmed for the 2023 World Series Winners earlier this week and motivation could be tough to find, even if they do have a chance to play spoiler.
Texas will give the ball to Jack Leiter who has a 9-10 record and 3.92 ERA in his twenty-eight starts made in his second year in the Major League. The numbers will offer plenty of encouragement going into 2025, although this is the first full season in the Major League and has perhaps contributed to what has been a slump in form in September.
Jack Leiter has made four starts this month and he has a 0-3 record with a 4.70 ERA, although the Rangers are allowing the young pitcher to work out of troubling spots to build up his experience.
He did face the Cleveland Guardians last month and Jack Leiter held them scoreless in 7 Innings thrown, while picking up the decision win. This has to give the pitcher some confidence, despite the September performances, and it is something that will not have been lost on this Cleveland batting lineup.
Countering the youngster will be Slade Cecconi who has a 7-6 record with a 4.15 ERA in his twenty-two starts made in 2025 in what is his first season in Cleveland. The first two years in the Major League have been spent with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but Cecconi has made more starts this season than the previous two combined.
Slade Cecconi has Playoff experience, albeit in relief outings, while he has been in strong form down the stretch and that has aided the Cleveland push towards the post-season. After giving up seven runs in a little over 5 Innings thrown earlier this month, Slade Cecconi has bounced back by allowing two earned runs in over 20 Innings thrown across three starts.
Unsurprisingly he has been well backed by the Cleveland batting lineup and Slade Cecconi has a 2-0 record in those three outings. He did allow two runs in 6 Innings pitched against the Texas Rangers last month, but Cecconi did not factor into the decision.
Texas swept a three game home series against the Guardians last month, but they lost two of three when last playing in this ballpark in 2024.
Prediction
You have to be careful with some of the odds around this final weekend as teams who 'need' to win are shortened.
For example, the New York Yankees look very short in a home game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday evening, while the same can be said for the Toronto Blue Jays in a home game against Tampa Bay.
Even the prices on Cleveland are perhaps shorter than they would be if this same situation was presented in July, but Jack Leiter has been struggling for recent form when heading to the mound for the Texas Rangers.
With the Guardians bats in good form, they can set the platform for a successful outing as they look to remain in front of the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central.
Slade Cecconi has put three quality starts together for the home team and it may just lead to a narrow Cleveland win.
The Pick :
Cleveland Guardians 3-2 Texas Rangers
