The AL West winner is guaranteed a place in the record book, just not the good part of it. Whichever of Houston or Texas takes the division will be the first team to win one at .500 or worse, and the first to reach the playoffs in a full season without a winning record. It's also the No. 3 seed, which is why a team that finished 80-81 or 81-81 gets to host a playoff series.
If it's Houston, the Astros got there partly through Texas. They won 9 of the 13 meetings between the 2 clubs this year, and that's the only reason a tie goes their way. If it's Texas, the Rangers will have closed the season winning the game they had to win. That's a nice story, but it also means the rotation and bullpen got pushed hard 48 hours before Game 1.
For Chicago, the question is whether losing the Central sticks with them. The Sox let a division get away down the stretch and now open on the road against a team that has barely broken even all year. On paper that's a gift. In a best-of-3, paper counts for less, and a hot start from either rotation could end it in 2 games.
Check back once Sunday is settled. The opponent, the probable starters and the prices all come out of that last day, and this preview gets its picks once there's a real board.