Houston Astros secure the most embarrassing kind of Major League Baseball history with AL West win
The Houston Astros clinched the AL West at 81-81, becoming the worst division-winning team in Major League Baseball history over a full season.
TL;DR
- The Houston Astros won the AL West with an 81-81 record, becoming the worst division-winning team in MLB history over a full season.
- The previous record was held by the 2005 San Diego Padres, who won the NL West with an 82-80 record.
- The Astros' expected win-loss record based on run differential was 78-84, significantly worse than their actual record.
- Despite their performance, the Astros are favored to win their wild card series against the Chicago White Sox.
- The league's financial incentives and playoff structure may encourage owners to minimize spending and aim for just enough wins to make the postseason.