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The Houston Astros finished the 2024 Major League Baseball regular season with an 81-81 record, officially becoming the worst division-winning team in baseball history.
By defeating the Oakland Athletics 9-0 on the final day of the season, the Astros avoided an 80-82 record and claimed the American League West title, surpassing the previous low-water mark set by the 2005 San Diego Padres, who won the National League West with an 82-80 record.
The Astros' achievement came as the Texas Rangers, who entered the final day tied with Houston at 80-81, failed to secure a postseason berth.
The concurrent National League race saw the Philadelphia Phillies clinch a wild card series spot with a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, avoiding a collapse after holding a 99.1% chance of reaching the postseason as recently as the previous week, according to FanGraphs.
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