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Only three teams in Major League Baseball history have ever made the postseason with a record below .500, and all of them did it in shortened seasons.
During the pandemic-shortened 60-game season in 2020, both the Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers sneaked into the expanded playoff field with identical 29-31 records. Before that, a player strike led to a split-season format in 1981, allowing the 50-53 Kansas City Royals to qualify.
Never in baseball history has a sub-.500 team made the playoffs during a standard, 162-game season—but that could change this year.
The Texas Rangers currently lead a highly chaotic race for the American League's 6th seed with a 62-64 record.
Recognizing the historic mediocrity of this playoff race, oddsmakers at BetOnline Sports & Casino have opened special betting markets on whether a losing team will actually crack the AL postseason bracket, and which squad will ultimately secure that final seed.
Will a team below .500 make the AL Postseason?
Yes +110 (11/10)
No -150 (2/3)
Note: These odds imply a 40% probability of a team making the AL playoffs with a record under .500.
Which team will be the #6 seed in AL Postseason?
| Toronto Blue Jays | 4/1 | |
| Baltimore Orioles | 5/1 | |
| Cleveland Guardians | 6/1 | |
| Detroit Tigers | 7/1 | |
| Chicago White Sox | 15/2 | (+750) |
| Boston Red Sox | 8/1 | |
| Minnesota Twins | 8/1 | |
| Texas Rangers | 9/1 | |
| Seattle Mariners | 12/1 |
- BetOnline Press
