Game 162 just slammed shut, and what an absolute wild ride it was to finalize the 12-team MLB postseason. Can you believe the Astros, yeah, *those* Astros, clinched the American League West with a truly mind-boggling 81-81 record, somehow making them the playoff team with the worst full-season record in MLB history? While they are hosting the White Sox for their wild-card series starting Tuesday, the Phillies barely held off the Diamondbacks on the final day to grab that last National League wild-card spot. It is officially October baseball, folks, and things are already nuts.
Worst Record, Best Position?
It is truly wild how the Astros pulled this off, winning the AL West over the Rangers by just one game with that 81-81 record. They are sitting pretty in a terrific spot, despite having 13 fewer wins than their National League counterpart, the Braves, who are a No. 3 seed. The Astros even get to play what is considered a “worse team” in the wild-card round than Atlanta does, which is just insane when you look at their own struggles. Depth issues have been a problem all year, leading to GM Dana Brown getting let go back in August. But hey, they hit the most home runs in MLB this year, and they have AL MVP favorite Yordan Alvarez to cover up some of those offensive gaps. Seriously, their outfield had the lowest batting average and on-base percentage in the whole league. Pitching staff is short too, but Hunter Brown is at the top of the rotation, and closer Josh Hader is a stone-cold lock with his 1.01 ERA and perfect 26-for-26 saves record. Plus, their opponent has even bigger pitching questions, so maybe they caught a break?
White Sox: From Worst to Wild Card
Now, let us talk about the White Sox. Whatever happens next, this season has been way better than anyone on Chicago’s South Side could have dreamed. After three straight 100-loss seasons, including the absolute worst in modern baseball history just two years ago, they are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2021. They just missed out on the AL Central title, leading the division by three games heading into the final month, but a 12-13 September while the Guardians went 17-8 knocked them out. Still, they are playing the “worst team in the playoff field” and entering the postseason with some serious momentum, having won their last three series. Their young offense is an all-or-nothing show. They ranked fifth in MLB in homers, with Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas, and Colson Montgomery all smashing over 30 dingers. But man, they also struck out the fifth-most in the sport. Those bats better get blazing, because their rotation ranked 26th in ERA, and their bullpen is totally gassed, throwing the most innings in MLB this year. Talk about high stakes for those young sluggers!
So, get ready, baseball fans, because these best-of-three Wild Card series start Tuesday! We have got the Yankees hosting the Red Sox, the Braves going head-to-head with the Phillies, and the Padres ready for the Cubs. It is win-or-go-home time, and you know it is gonna be electric!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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