After M's host A's next week, will the AL West be lead by a sub .500 team (more L's than W's)?
67% of users predicted NO — the community missed this one. 27 predictions cast.
The Seattle Mariners swept a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum, capped by a 9-1 victory on May 27, 2026, to take first place in the American League West with a record of 28-29. The division leader held more losses than wins — a sub-.500 record — making this question resolve Yes.
The Athletics had previously held first place in the AL West, but Seattle's sweep pushed Oakland to 27-29, a half-game behind the new leaders. Both clubs finished the series below the .500 mark, reflecting a division where no team has managed to separate from the field through the first two months of the 2026 season.
The wide-open nature of the AL West has been a recurring storyline in 2026. Standings shifts have been frequent, and no team has sustained a winning record over any extended stretch. Community forecasters were skeptical this scenario would play out, with only 33% predicting a sub-.500 leader after the series concluded. The Mariners' dominant run-scoring and pitching depth during the sweep proved that minority right.