Postseason baseball is just one week out! Game 1 of the Wild Card Series kicks off next Tuesday, and for the second year in a row (and the third time in four years), a team with the *second-best record* in its league is getting absolutely hosed. They are stuck playing in the best-of-three Wild Card Series instead of cruising into an ALDS bye. That’s right, the bye still goes to division winners with the two best records, not just the two best teams overall. This postseason format, in place since 2022, is already making zero sense.
Second Best, Fourth Seed: The Playoff Paradox
We’ve seen this movie before. In 2023, the Orioles won the AL East with a 101-61 record, but the Rays, despite a phenomenal 99-63 record, were runner-up and ended up as the No. 4 seed. Then in 2025, the Blue Jays (94-68) won the AL East, while the Yankees (94-68 via tiebreaker) were runner-up and got bumped down to No. 4 too. And guess what? The 2026 AL East is joining that club. Barring a miracle, the Rays (95-60) are gonna win the division. The Yankees (89-66) will finish second, making them the league’s two best records. But Tampa gets a bye, and the Yankees are forced into the Wild Card Series. Meanwhile, the second bye will go to some AL Central or AL West winner not within eight games of New York’s record. It’s wild!
The Tank Job That Makes Too Much Sense
This is where it gets absolutely bonkers. The Yankees are currently lined up to play the Red Sox (84-72, soon to clinch the AL’s third-best record) in the Wild Card Series. The winner then plays the Rays in the ALDS. So you’ve got these three powerhouses knocking each other out early while some mediocre division winner gets a free pass to the ALCS. Seriously, the Red Sox haven’t locked up that No. 5 seed yet. The source says they should *tank the rest of their games* and fall into the No. 6 seed! Why? Because the No. 6 seed has a much more favorable path. From 2023-25, the worst division winner only twice had a better record than the top wild-card team, and often the second wild-card had a better record. That trend is likely again this season with the Yankees and Red Sox. It’s a good year to be a *mediocre* team in the American League, for real.
Here are the current AL standings:
- 1. Rays: 95-60 (No. 1 seed)
- 2. Yankees: 89-66 (No. 4 seed)
- 3. Red Sox: 84-72 (No. 5 seed)
- 4. Guardians: 81-75 (No. 2 seed)
- 5. White Sox: 80-76 (No. 6 seed)
- 6. Rangers: 78-78 (No. 3 seed)
I get the “if you don’t like it, win your division” argument, I really do. But there HAS to be a better, fairer way to run the postseason. One that actually rewards the best teams, no matter what division they’re in. Get ready for some wild baseball starting next Tuesday, because this seeding mess is going to make for some seriously unpredictable matchups right out of the gate!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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