Astros win AL West with 81-81 record, worst for first-place team, beat A's 9-0

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Houston Astros won their fifth AL West title in six years despite finishing with the worst record for a first-place team, beating the Athletics 9-0 Sunday behind Lucas Spence’s two-run triple to finish at 81-81.

Nick Allen had just doubled leading off the eighth with the Astros leading by eight runs when Texas lost at Minnesota, assuring the Astros of their ninth postseason trip in 10 years after missing out in 2025.

Houston will host the Chicago White Sox in a best-of-three Wild Card Series starting Tuesday. The Astros finished one game ahead of Texas (80-82) but would have earned the division title even with a defeat because they held the tiebreaker.

Houston had the lowest winning percentage for a team reaching the postseason in a non-shortened year, breaking the mark set when the 2005 San Diego Padres went 82-20.

Yordan Alvarez finished as the major league batting leader at .316, going 1 for 4.

The Athletics went 64-98 in their second season at a Triple-A ballpark in West Sacramento before a planned move to Las Vegas in 2028, down from 76-86 last year. They drew 10,022 for their season finale at Sutter Health Park and finished with a major league-low 799,240 home attendance, the only team not to reach 1 million.

Jose Altuve's RBI groundout, Yainer Diaz's run-scoring double and Spence's two-run triple built a 4-0 lead in the third against Brady Basso (1-4), who allowed four runs and three hits in one inning.

Christian Walker’s solo home run and Yordan Alvarez’s RBI single extended their lead to 6-0 in the sixth inning.

Ethan Pecko (3-0) allowed one hit in three innings.

Houston has not announced its probable pitcher for Tuesday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Houston Astros celebrate after clinching the AL West division title in a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Houston Astros celebrate after clinching the AL West division title in a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Houston Astros pose for a photo after clinching the AL West division title in a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Houston Astros' Brice Matthews, center, celebrates with teammates after clinching the AL West division title in a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Houston Astros celebrate after clinching the AL West division title in a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

SEATTLE (AP) — Dan Wilson will not return as the Seattle Mariners' manager next season, he and the team said Sunday.

Wilson made the announcement shortly after the Mariners finished off a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels, the ending to a disappointing 76-86 season that began with World Series hopes after Seattle reached Game 7 of the American League Championship Series last year.

“Collectively we failed to meet our own expectations this season,” Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. “Dan and I both care deeply about this organization, these players, and the future of the Mariners. After much discussion it was concluded that a new direction is best for 2027 and beyond.

"I want to thank Dan for his efforts over the past two years and specifically recognize his role in our club advancing to Game 7 of the ALCS in 2025.”

Wilson, a Mariners Hall of Famer who played catcher for the team from 1994-2005, took over the job after Seattle fired Scott Servais on Aug. 22, 2024.

“I'm still processing this with my family, and it's a very difficult day," Wilson said at a postgame news conference, reading from a prepared statement. “We love this city, we love this community and we appreciate the organization for what it has meant to the family since coming here in '94.”

Wilson finishes with a 187-171 record as Mariners manager, at .522 the second-best winning percentage in club history behind Lou Piniella (.542).

“I’ve appreciated the opportunity to lead this team the past two years,” Wilson said. “While this season has not gone the way any of us expected, I’m proud that the players in the clubhouse showed up each day to try and compete and battle in each game they played. I’m confident that the 2026 season doesn’t accurately reflect the talent, passion and desire of our players and know that bright things are ahead for this group.”

Prior to Sunday's game, Wilson told the team he would not be back next season.

“He just made it clear that he really cares about this team and this organization as a whole,” Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez said. “Even though he's not going to be around us, he'll always be there for us in many different ways and that he believes in this group.”

Mariners Chairman and CEO John Stanton thanked Wilson and said he could still remain in the organization.

"I want to add my thanks to Dan for the work he’s done as manager,” Stanton said in the team's statement. “I have also spoken with Dan and made it clear that we would like to keep him in our organization. I look forward to continued conversations as we work to identify a role in which we can continue to benefit from his experience and commitment to the Mariners and our community.”

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson looks on during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson, left, greets shortstop J.P. Crawford, right, after a win over the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson, facing, greets bullpen catcher Fleming Báez (66) after a win over the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Kade Anderson, right, leaves the game with manager Dan Wilson, left, after being hit by a line drive single by Los Angeles Angels' Christian Moore during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson looks on during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)