As the regular season draws to a close, the American League West finds itself in an unusual position. The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are tied for first place with a 78‑79 record, a scenario that would have been impossible before the 2022 expansion of the postseason to twelve teams. No full‑season division champion has ever finished below .500, and only a handful of teams have ever reached October with a losing record.
Why Sub‑.500 Teams Can Qualify
MLB’s 2022 postseason expansion increased the odds that a team with a sub‑.500 record could sneak into the playoffs. The only prior examples occurred during temporary expansions: the 2020 pandemic‑shortened season saw the Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros finish 29‑31, while the 1981 strike‑split season allowed the Kansas City Royals to qualify with a 50‑53 record as the AL West’s second‑half champion.
Ten Notable Teams That Made It Despite Weak Records
1973 New York Mets (82‑79, NL East champions) – The Mets rallied late, winning 21 of their final 29 games to clinch the division. Though they fell short in the World Series, their run demonstrated that a modest winning record can still produce a deep postseason run.
1984 Kansas City Royals (84‑78, AL West champions) – After a mid‑season slump that left them 11 games under .500, the Royals surged to win the division. Their success paved the way for a World Series title the following year.
1987 Minnesota Twins (85‑77, AL West champions) – Despite a negative run differential, the Twins captured the division and went on to win the World Series, proving that postseason performance can outweigh regular‑season statistics.
1995 Colorado Rockies (77‑67, NL West second place, wild‑card) – The Rockies earned the National League’s first wild‑card berth in a season shortened by the 1994‑95 work stoppage. Their offense led the league, even though their ERA was the highest among postseason teams.
2005 San Diego Padres (82‑80, NL West champions) – The Padres reached the playoffs with a barely above‑average record, but were quickly swept by the 100‑win St. Louis Cardinals.
2006 St. Louis Cardinals (83‑78, NL Central champions) – As a wild‑card team, the Cardinals captured the National League pennant and won the World Series, underscoring how a modest record can still produce championship glory.
2017 Minnesota Twins (85‑77, AL Central second place, second wild‑card) – The Twins secured a postseason spot in a league where only five teams finished above .500, highlighting the impact of the expanded format.
2023 Miami Marlins (84‑78, NL East third place, second wild‑card) – The Marlins posted the worst run differential ever for a postseason team, yet their success in one‑run games earned them a playoff berth.
2023 Arizona Diamondbacks (84‑78, NL West second place, third wild‑card) – After a nine‑game losing streak in August, the Diamondbacks entered the postseason and advanced to the World Series, proving that a negative run differential does not preclude a deep run.
2025 Cincinnati Reds (83‑79, NL Central third place, third wild‑card) – The Reds earned a wild‑card spot despite a modest record, illustrating how the 12‑team format continues to reward teams that finish strong in the latter part of the season.
What This Means for the AL West
If the Rangers or Astros maintain their current pace, they could become the first division champion in MLB history to finish the regular season with a losing record. While the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox have already pushed past the 80‑win mark, the AL West remains the only division where a sub‑.500 champion is still possible.
Baseball fans should remember that the expanded postseason was designed to keep more teams in contention later in the season, giving clubs that stumble early a chance to recover and compete for a championship. As the race tightens, the possibility of another historically weak team earning a playoff berth remains very real.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
