Astros and Phillies claim final MLB playoff places as regular season ends
Houston won the AL West and Philadelphia secured the last NL wild-card berth on Game 162, while Arizona and Texas ended their seasons outside the playoffs.
Game 162 brought Major League Baseball’s 2026 regular season to a close, with playoff places still at stake. The Houston Astros won the AL West, fending off the Texas Rangers, and reached the postseason for the ninth time in 10 years.
The Philadelphia Phillies beat Tampa Bay 7–3 to claim the National League’s final wild-card spot. They will make the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season, tying a club record.
Arizona and Texas both missed the playoffs. The Diamondbacks have now narrowly missed the postseason in three of the past four years, while the Rangers have not returned since winning the World Series in 2023.
The AL West’s results leave a stark division record: every team finished with a negative run differential, and the division produced the first playoff team without a winning record, according to CBS Sports.
The Los Angeles Angels finished 62–100, marking the franchise’s first 100-loss season. Colorado, the Angels and Oakland were also reported to have the best odds of securing the top pick in the 2027 draft, subject to adjustments.
