The 2026 MLB regular season is officially wrapped, and while ten teams are gearing up for the postseason, our Mariners are unfortunately not among them. The Houston Astros, of all teams, clinched the AL West with an 81-81 record on the final day, becoming the first non-winning team to ever take a division in a 162-game season. Yeah, you read that right.
The AL West Shocker That Stings in the Emerald City
That 81-81 record for the Astros? It’s a bitter pill to swallow when you consider our M’s finished 76-86, just 5.0 games back of that .500 division winner. Five games, people! It truly makes you think about what could have been. The Astros only clinched after the Rangers lost, with Houston winning their own game just minutes later. Elsewhere in the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays dominated the AL East with a 98-64 record, while the Cleveland Guardians took the AL Central at 85-77. For the Wild Card spots, the New York Yankees (93-68) and Boston Red Sox (87-75) grabbed the top two spots out of the AL East. And in a bit of a shocker, the Chicago White Sox, called “one of the biggest surprises of the year,” snagged the No. 6 seed with an 84-78 record.
Playoff Picture: Who’s Moving On
Over in the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers were absolute beasts, finishing 103-59 and earning the top bye. The Los Angeles Dodgers were right behind them with a 100-62 record, also getting a bye. The Atlanta Braves won the NL East with a strong 94-68 finish. For the NL Wild Card, the San Diego Padres (91-71) and Chicago Cubs (89-73) secured berths. In a dramatic Game 162 miracle, the Philadelphia Phillies (88-74) pulled off a late surge to snatch the final Wild Card spot after admittedly “dragging their feet” for the last week of the season. The playoff bracket is set: Rays and Guardians have AL byes, while the Astros face the White Sox, and the Yankees take on the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series. In the NL, Brewers and Dodgers get byes, with the Braves playing the Phillies and the Padres facing the Cubs.
So, as the playoffs kick off, we’re left watching from the sidelines. The Dodgers are already the favorites for the World Series at +225 odds, with the Brewers at +450 and the Rays at +700. Our M’s might be out, but you know we’ll be here, bleeding green and blue, watching every pitch and dreaming of what next year could bring. Time to recalibrate, Emerald City. We always come back stronger.
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.
Leave a Reply