Winners and losers of MLB’s Game 162: Phillies, Astros save their seasons, AL West makes mockery of the sport

Sunday marked Game 162 of the Major League Baseball season, and now the regular season is over and the playoffs upon us. Game 162 these days is a unique occasion on the MLB calendar, in that, weather permitting, all games start at the same time or within minutes of each other. With postseason berths hanging in the balance and scoreboard-watching the norm, that adds a layer of intrigue to the proceedings. The 2026 edition of Game 162 was no exception.

To get you up to speed on all that went down on Sunday, we're here to declare some winners and losers from the action that unfolded just ahead of the playoffs. Let's do that now.

Game 162, when the standings cooperate, is mostly about snaring a playoff berth at the last moment. The Astros did indeed do that, as they fended off their in-state rivals, the Rangers, for the AL West crown and thus made the playoffs for the ninth time in the last 10 years. That sets up a Wild Card Series encounter with the White Sox. The Astros are on the cusp of seeing their window close, but Sunday's outcomes ensured they have one last run in them.

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/