Astros enter postseason with .500 record, facing White Sox in wild-card series
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 28, 2026, 10:23 PM
Last updated Sep 28, 2026

The Houston Astros, with a.500 record, became the first team to qualify for the MLB postseason under such circumstances. They secured a division title after defeating the Athletics 9-0 on September 27, 2026. The Astros will play the Chicago White Sox in a wild-card series starting Tuesday, aiming for their third World Series title despite a lackluster regular season. Historical precedent shows teams often succeed in October regardless of their regular-season performance.
- •Astros finished regular season with a 81-81 record.
- •Defeated Athletics 9-0 to clinch AL West title.
- •They face the Chicago White Sox in wild-card series.
- •Historical examples show postseason success despite poor regular seasons.
- 10:23 PMYahoo Sports — Astros weren't great in regular season, but neither were these teams that reached World Series
"The Astros are the first team with a .500 record to make the MLB postseason. They can look this list of teams who also underachieved in the regular season, but got hot at the right time.
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