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AL West Could Have First Sub-.500 Champion

Published September 23, 2026 · Updated September 23, 2026 · Fox Sports

The AL West is on the verge of making MLB history as the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are tied at 78-79 with a few games remaining, potentially becoming the first full-season division champion with a losing record.

No team has ever won a division title with a sub-.500 record in a full season. The closest came in 1981 when the Kansas City Royals went 50-53 but won the AL West after a strike shortened the season. In 2020, Houston (29-31) and Milwaukee (29-31) made the playoffs in the COVID-shortened season. game-sweetbonanza.com

MLB expanded to 12 playoff teams in 2022, increasing the likelihood of weaker teams reaching October. While the AL Central's Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox have reached 81 wins, the AL West race could still yield a losing team champion.

AL West Could Have First Sub-.500 Champion

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