Losers Welcome: Teams Below .500 Would Frequently Make A 16-Team Postseason
If Major League Baseball expands its postseason to 16 teams, teams with losing records making the playoffs will become a nearly annual occurrence.
Since 1998, the year MLB expanded to 30 teams, at least one team with a losing record would have made the playoffs in 18 of 22 seasons had a 16-team playoff been in place, based on historical standings.
That includes at least one team with a losing record making the playoffs in each of the last six seasons.
The win totals for teams that finished eighth in their respective leagues had a low of 76 wins (the 2013 Padres and Giants) and a high of 86 wins (the 2001 and 2004 Phillies and 2006 Red Sox).
The median is 81 wins for teams that finished eighth in their respective leagues since 1998.
Here is a look at the eighth-place team in each league since 1998, all of whom would have made the playoffs in a 16-team format.
| Year | American League | National League |
| 2019 | Rangers (78-84) | Cubs (84-78) |
| 2018 | Angels (80-82) | Two-way tie (82-80) |
| 2017 | Three-way tie (80-82) | Marlins (77-85) |
| 2016 | Two-way tie (84-78) | Pirates (78-83) |
| 2015 | Indians (81-80) | D-backs (79-83) |
| 2014 | Yankees (84-78) | Mets (79-83) |
| 2013 | Two-way tie (85-77) | Two-way tie (76-86) |
| 2012 | White Sox (85-77) | Two-way tie (81-81) |
| 2011 | Indians (80-82) | Nationals (80-81) |
| 2010 | Two-way tie 81-81) | Two-way tie (80-82) |
| 2009 | Rays (84-78) | Cubs (83-78) |
| 2008 | Indians (81-81) | D-backs (82-80) |
| 2007 | Twins (79-83) | Brewers (83-78) |
| 2006 | Red Sox (86-76) | Braves (79-83) |
| 2005 | Blue Jays (80-82) | Two-way tie (81-81) |
| 2004 | Indians (80-82) | Phillies (86-76) |
| 2003 | Royals (83-79) | Cardinals (85-77) |
| 2002 | Blue Jays (78-84) | Phillies (80-81) |
| 2001 | Blue Jays (80-82) | Phillies (86-76) |
| 2000 | Angels (80-82) | Rockies (82-80) |
| 1999 | Orioles (78-84) | Two-way tie (77-85) |
| 1998 | Orioles (79-83) | Cardinals (83-79) |
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