Sunday marked Game 162 of the Major League Baseball season, and now the regular season is over and the playoffs upon us. Game 162 these days is a unique occasion on the MLB calendar, in that, weather permitting, all games start at the same time or within minutes of each other. With postseason berths hanging in the balance and scoreboard-watching the norm, that adds a layer of intrigue to the proceedings.
The 2026 edition of Game 162 was no exception. To get you up to speed on all that went down on Sunday, we're here to declare some winners and losers from the action that unfolded just ahead of the playoffs. Game 162, when the standings cooperate, is mostly about snaring a playoff berth at the last moment.
The Astros did indeed do that, as they fended off their in-state rivals, the Rangers, for the AL West crown and thus made the playoffs for the ninth time in the last 10 years. That sets up a Wild Card Series encounter with the White Sox. The Astros are on the cusp of seeing their window close, but Sunday's outcomes ensured they have one last run in them.
As noted above, the Astros were crowned AL West champs on Sunday and as a result secured their spot in the postseason. However, a certain level of chagrin should accompany it. The AL West in 2026 was quite simply a historically miserable division.
Not only did the division yield the first-ever playoff team without a winning record, but also every single team in the division finished with a negative run differential. By any reasonable standard, none of the five teams of the AL West should be in the postseason, but here we are. OK, this actually happened on Saturday, but we'll make an exception and include him here.
Verlander, the future first ballot Hall of Famer and arguably the greatest pitcher of his generation, made the final start of his standout career on Saturday after 21 seasons in the majors. The 43-year-old right-hander against the Pirates worked 5 ⅓ innings with two runs allowed and six strikeouts against only one walk. The real triumph, however, came when the Tigers gave Verlander an exit he'll remember and cherish for the rest of his life.
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