Source: FOX Sports
Summary
The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are tied for first in the AL West at 78-79, making them the first division leaders with losing records since 1994. No team with a sub-.500 record has ever made the postseason, unless it was in the 2020 shortened season. The 1981 Kansas City Royals and 1994 Rangers also had losing records but made the playoffs due to strike-related circumstances. The 2022 postseason expansion increased the chances of a sub-.500 team making the playoffs, but the AL Central teams have since passed that threshold.
Our Reading
This one felt recognizable early.
The Rangers and Astros are stuck in a losing rut, tied for first in the AL West at 78-79.
No team with a losing record has ever made the playoffs, unless it was in a shortened season or due to a strike.
The 1981 Royals and 1994 Rangers made it on luck and circumstances, not talent.
It’s not a stretch to say the AL West might make history this year.
Author: Evan Null
AL West Race: A Losing Proposition
The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are locked in a tight race for first place in the AL West, both sitting at 78-79. This is a rare situation, as no team with a losing record has ever made the postseason. The 1981 Kansas City Royals and 1994 Rangers both made the playoffs due to strike-related circumstances, but neither had a winning record. The 2020 season, shortened by the pandemic, saw the Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros make the playoffs with sub-.500 records.
The 2022 expansion of the postseason to 12 teams increased the chances of a sub-.500 team making the playoffs. However, the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox have since passed the 81-win mark, making it less likely. The AL West remains the only division where a team with a losing record could still make the playoffs.
The 1981 Royals, who went 50-53, made the playoffs after the strike ended the season. The 1994 Rangers led a division with every team under .500, but no postseason was played. The 2020 season saw the Brewers and Astros make the playoffs with 29-31 records, but they were part of a shortened season.
The Rangers and Astros are in a unique position, with the potential to make history. However, their chances are slim, as no team with a losing record has ever made the playoffs. The 2022 expansion increased the odds, but the AL Central teams have already passed the 81-win threshold.
The AL West race is a strange one, with two teams tied for first place at 78-79. It’s a rare situation that could make history, but it’s also a reminder of how the postseason has evolved over the years.
Historical Context: Sub-.500 Teams in the Postseason
Historically, no team with a losing record has ever made the postseason. The 1981 Kansas City Royals went 50-53 but made the playoffs after the strike ended the season. The 1994 Rangers led a division with every team under .500, but no postseason was played. The 2020 season, shortened by the pandemic, saw the Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros make the playoffs with 29-31 records.
The 2022 expansion of the postseason to 12 teams increased the chances of a sub-.500 team making the playoffs. However, the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox have since passed the 81-win threshold, making it less likely. The AL West remains the only division where a team with a losing record could still make the playoffs.
The 1981 Royals, who went 50-53, made the playoffs after the strike ended the season. The 1994 Rangers led a division with every team under .500, but no postseason was played. The 2020 season saw the Brewers and Astros make the playoffs with 29-31 records, but they were part of a shortened season.
The Rangers and Astros are in a unique position, with the potential to make history. However, their chances are slim, as no team with a losing record has ever made the playoffs. The 2022 expansion increased the odds, but the AL Central teams have already passed the 81-win threshold.
The AL West race is a strange one, with two teams tied for first place at 78-79. It’s a rare situation that could make history, but it’s also a reminder of how the postseason has evolved over the years.
The 2022 Postseason Expansion and Its Impact
The 2022 expansion of the postseason to 12 teams increased the chances of a sub-.500 team making the playoffs. However, the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox have since passed the 81-win threshold, making it less likely. The AL West remains the only division where a team with a losing record could still make the playoffs.
The 1981 Kansas City Royals went 50-53 but made the playoffs after the strike ended the season. The 1994 Rangers led a division with every team under .500, but no postseason was played. The 2020 season, shortened by the pandemic, saw the Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros make the playoffs with 29-31 records.
The 2022 expansion increased the odds of a sub-.500 team making the playoffs, but the AL Central teams have already passed the 81-win threshold. The Rangers and Astros are in a unique position, with the potential to make history. However, their chances are slim, as no team with a losing record has ever made the playoffs.
The AL West race is a strange one, with two teams tied for first place at 78-79. It’s a rare situation that could make history, but it’s also a reminder of how the postseason has evolved over the years.
The 2022 expansion of the postseason to 12 teams increased the chances of a sub-.500 team making the playoffs. However, the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox have since passed the 81-win threshold, making it less likely. The AL West remains the only division where a team with a losing record could still make the playoffs.
Notable Sub-.500 Teams in Postseason History
The 1981 Kansas City Royals went 50-53 but made the playoffs after the strike ended the season. The 1994 Rangers led a division with every team under .500, but no postseason was played. The 2020 season, shortened by the pandemic, saw the Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros make the playoffs with 29-31 records.
The 2022 expansion of the postseason to 12 teams increased the chances of a sub-.500 team making the playoffs. However, the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox have since passed the 81-win threshold, making it less likely. The AL West remains the only division where a team with a losing record could still make the playoffs.
The 1981 Royals, who went 50-53, made the playoffs after the strike ended the season. The 1994 Rangers led a division with every team under .500, but no postseason was played. The 2020 season saw the Brewers and Astros make the playoffs with 29-31 records, but they were part of a shortened season.
The Rangers and Astros are in a unique position, with the potential to make history. However, their chances are slim, as no team with a losing record has ever made the playoffs. The 2022 expansion increased the odds, but the AL Central teams have already passed the 81-win threshold.
The AL West race is a strange one, with two teams tied for first place at 78-79. It’s a rare situation that could make history, but it’s also a reminder of how the postseason has evolved over the years.
The Unlikely Path to the Postseason
The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are locked in a tight race for first place in the AL West, both sitting at 78-79. This is a rare situation, as no team with a losing record has ever made the postseason. The 1981 Kansas City Royals and 1994 Rangers both made the playoffs due to strike-related circumstances, but neither had a winning record.
The 2020 season, shortened by the pandemic, saw the Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros make the playoffs with 29-31 records. The 2022 expansion of the postseason to 12 teams increased the chances of a sub-.500 team making the playoffs. However, the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox have since passed the 81-win threshold, making it less likely.
The 1981 Royals, who went 50-53, made the playoffs after the strike ended the season. The 1994 Rangers led a division with every team under .500, but no postseason was played. The 2020 season saw the Brewers and Astros make the playoffs with 29-31 records, but they were part of a shortened season.
The Rangers and Astros are in a unique position, with the potential to make history. However, their chances are slim, as no team with a losing record has ever made the playoffs. The 2022 expansion increased the odds, but the AL Central teams have already passed the 81-win threshold.
The AL West race is a strange one, with two teams tied for first place at 78-79. It’s a rare situation that could make history, but it’s also a reminder of how the postseason has evolved over the years.
