AL West Race Could Produce Losing-Record Playoff Team

The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros were tied for first in the AL West at 78-79 late in the season, raising the possibility that a full-season division champion could finish below .500 for the first time. No team has qualified for the playoffs with a losing record outside unusual expanded-playoff seasons, though MLB’s 12-team format has made that outcome more plausible. History also shows that weak regular-season teams can make deep October runs: the 2021 Braves had the worst record among postseason qualifiers but won the World Series, and other low-win teams have reached the Fall Classic.