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Below .500: MLB Teams Vie for Historic Playoff Berth
26 Sep
Summary
- Two MLB teams are tied for division lead with losing records.
- One team will make MLB history by reaching playoffs below .500.
- A 1994 MLB strike ended the season before a World Series.
The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are locked in a unique race for the American League West title, both holding identical 79-80 records as of Friday. This unprecedented scenario means that whichever team secures the division's lone playoff berth will achieve a historic first: making the postseason with a losing record, a feat never before accomplished in Major League Baseball history.
This situation draws parallels to the interrupted 1994 season, when an MLB players' strike led to the cancellation of the World Series. At the time of that strike's onset on August 11, the Rangers were leading the AL West with a 52-62 record, significantly below .500.
As the current season nears its end on Sunday, MLB executives are reportedly hoping one of the tied teams can finish at least at .500. Regardless of the final win-loss record, one of these franchises is guaranteed to carve out a significant, albeit unusual, piece of baseball history by clinching a playoff spot.
