The American League playoff races for the AL West and third wild-card spot are the worst in MLB history, or at least the weirdest. This week began with only four AL teams posting winning records. The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers were tied for the AL West lead at 65-66, with the Cleveland Guardians matching them, meaning two teams with losing records would head to the postseason. Five other teams were within 3½ games of a playoff spot.

The Seattle Mariners lost games by scores of 22-0, 19-2, 11-0, and 8-0 in August, yet remained three games out of first place. Historically, only three teams with losing records made the playoffs, but two came in the shortened 2020 season and one in the split 1981 season, which don't count. By full-season winning percentage, the worst playoff teams include the 2005 San Diego Padres (82-80) and 1973 New York Mets (82-79).

Only one of the eight current contenders has a positive run differential, and the Detroit Tigers, with the worst record, somehow have that positive mark. Six teams aren't close to breaking even. The Astros (66-66, minus-42) rely on Yordan Alvarez as an MVP candidate and Josh Hader's 19 saves, but their rotation has a 5.19 ERA. The Rangers (66-67, minus-41) lead in one-run games but average just 4.05 runs per game.

Despite the mediocrity, two of these teams will make the playoffs, possibly with sub-.500 records. The rules are the rules.