With two games left in the 2026 season, the Tampa Bay Rays led the American League at 97-63, despite ESPN’s 79-83 projection and 23% playoff odds; the Seattle Mariners, projected for 90 wins and picked to win the AL West, entered the final weekend 74-86.
The AL West offered another twist: the Astros and Rangers each lost Friday to a team with more than 90 losses, reaching 81 losses apiece. Neither can finish with a winning record, but one will still win the division.
The Rays were 18.5 games ahead of the Orioles and 19 ahead of the Blue Jays. Seattle’s Cal Raleigh followed his 60-homer season with a .169/.271/.310 batting line in the first half of 2026. In May, he went 2 for 36 with two singles, posting a .056/.128/.056 line.
