No team in the American League West is playing at .500

Want to hear a good one?

As we speak, not a single team in the American League West is playing at .500. And we're nearing the end of August!

The Houston Astros started yesterday as the only team in the division that could finish the day at .500… but they lost their second straight game to the A's.

The Rangers beat the Angels yesterday. So, just like the Astros, they have a 65-66 record after Sunday's games.

The Mariners (62-68 before yesterday's results and victims of a lopsided 19-2 loss) aren't anywhere near .500.

If the season ended today, the Astros would face the Guardians in the playoffs. The Astros would be the third seed… and the Rangers would be out of the picture.

Keep in mind that they have the same record.

The Yankees would host the Red Sox if the playoffs started today. Both teams have at least 71 wins this season, which would make for a more competitive matchup.

It's entirely possible that the American League West champion would be the sixth-strongest team in the American League, but that team would still have home-field advantage.

Hey: It's possible that a team out of the playoffs in the American League could have a better record than the team that wins the American League West.

We can all agree that this isn't the case in the National League.

Look at the standings: the last team currently qualified for the playoffs has an excellent record. We're talking about the Padres, who have a 71-60 record.

Aside from the Brewers and the Dodgers, the other National League teams can't really afford to lose too often if they want to make the playoffs. The Phillies (nine straight wins) have certainly figured that out.

Let's just say the bar is set higher than in the American League.

• Little League Game: Ronald Acuña Jr. and Jacob Misiorowski Welcomed as Heroes.

• Felix Bautista is nearing a return.

• Will Smith is also nearing a return.

Created by humans, assisted by AI.