'Winning percentage exactly at .500' yet division title! Houston completes the final puzzle... 2026 MLB postseason matchups finalized; Kim Ha-seong to face Phillies in opener

*This content was translated by AI.

The Houston Astros defeated the Athletics, securing the final piece of the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason bracket.

On the 28th (Korean time), Houston secured a decisive 9-0 victory over the Athletics in their regular-season finale at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California.

Later that day, the Texas Rangers lost to the Minnesota Twins 4-6, confirming Houston's American League (AL) West division title with an 81-81 record—exactly a .500 winning percentage. This marks their eighth division title in the past decade and ninth postseason appearance.

A historic milestone was also achieved: Houston is the first team in MLB history to win a division title with a season-long winning percentage of .500 or below. By mid-May, they had fallen to 20-31, with a win-loss margin as low as -11, and key players including Hunter Brown (28), Josh Hader (32), and Jeremy Peña (29) were sidelined by injuries. Yet, they ultimately claimed the crown on the final day.

Notably, Houston, despite its .500 record, earned the AL's No. 3 seed and will host the Chicago White Sox (84-78), who finished with a better record. The two teams will face off in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series (best-of-three) at 6:00 AM Korean time on the 30th at Houston's Daikin Park.

For Korean fans, the first postseason action to arrive involves Kim Ha-seong (31, Atlanta Braves). The Atlanta Braves, winners of the NL East and holding the No. 3 seed, will host the No. 6 Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of their Wild Card Series at home on the 30th at 3:00 AM Korean time. According to MLB.com's projected Wild Card rosters, Kim Ha-seong is listed as a shortstop option. If a left-handed starting pitcher takes the mound, Mauricio Dubón (32) could shift to left field, raising the possibility of Kim Ha-seong starting at shortstop.

Song Seong-mun (30) of the San Diego Padres will host the Chicago Cubs at home on the same day at 11:00 AM Korean time. However, his participation remains uncertain. MLB.com projected that with Gavin Sheets (30) returning from injury, Song Seong-mun is likely to be excluded from the Wild Card roster.

Kim Hye-seong (27) of the Los Angeles Dodgers will skip the first round as the NL's No. 2 seed. The NLDS opener is scheduled for October 4. MLB.com identified Kim Hye-seong, known for his speed and defensive versatility, as a candidate competing for the final bench spot. Lee Jung-hoo (28) of the San Francisco Giants failed to qualify for the postseason.

Other Wild Card matchups also offer rich storylines. The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will meet again in the Wild Card Series for the second consecutive year, following their clash last season. The Yankees won that series 2-1 and held a narrow edge over the Red Sox during the regular season with a 7-6 head-to-head record. This marks their seventh postseason meeting.

The rivalry between Atlanta and Philadelphia continues to be intense. Although Atlanta holds a 9-4 advantage in this year's regular-season matchups, Philadelphia has won all three previous postseason encounters against them. Notably, in both 2022 and 2023, the division-winning Braves were eliminated by the Wild Card-bound Phillies in consecutive years.

The No. 4 seed San Diego Padres and No. 5 seed Cubs will renew their rivalry from last year's Wild Card Series. While the Cubs won that series 2-1, they also dominated this season with a 5-1 head-to-head record. Of particular interest is Pete Crow-Armstrong (24), who posted 45 home runs and 41 stolen bases, earning MVP-level recognition for his postseason performance.

In the AL, the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians, along with Milwaukee and the Dodgers in the NL, have secured the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, advancing directly to the Division Series. The Dodgers, who won back-to-back World Series titles, will attempt their first three-peat since the Yankees achieved it from 1998 to 2000.

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*This content was translated by AI.