Houston Astros secure the most embarrassing kind of Major League Baseball history with AL West win

While most postseason spots and seeds were decided either within the last week or the last few days, there were two races that came down to the final day of the year.The American League West race featured the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers entering the day tied at 80-81, remarkably, and the third wild card spot in the National League between the Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks.This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.

If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.The Phillies, who as recently as last week had a 99.1% chance of reaching the postseason, per FanGraphs, avoided a historic collapse and clinched a wild card series appearance with a 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz motions to his teammates after hitting a double against the Athletics during the third inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, Calif., on Sept.

27, 2026.(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)WITH ONE MONTH LEFT, AMERICAN LEAGUE TEAMS ARE HEADING TOWARDS AN EMBARRASSING, HISTORIC LOWBut the Astros, even with a win, did in fact make an embarrassing type of history: they are officially the worst division-winning team in baseball history.The previous low-water mark was the 2005 San Diego Padres, who won the NL West with an 82-80 record.

And while the Astros won 9-0 over the long-eliminated Athletics to avoid the 80-82 record, 81–81 marks a new low winning percentage for a division winner over a full season.THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE.DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!Even crazier? The Astros were extremely fortunate to finish the season at .500.Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez celebrates with Christian Walker after hitting a grand slam during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Mo., on June 12, 2026.

(Charlie Riedel/AP)While wins and losses are what decide...