Mariners ending the Astros dynasty has united MLB fandoms in celebration

For years, the Houston Astros have been the immovable object in the AL West. Since 2017, they’ve won seven division titles, captured two World Series, and established themselves as one of baseball’s most relentless machines.

For Mariners fans, and really for every rival fanbase, it’s been a maddening stretch — a dynasty that always seemed to reload, never fade. Seattle’s own postseason dreams were often cut short under the weight of Houston’s dominance. But in late September of 2025, the Mariners flipped the script.

Seattle didn’t just sweep the Astros, they dismantled them in front of their own fans in Daikin Park. The Mariners exposed a vulnerable team, taking every ounce of swagger out of a club that built its reputation on October inevitability. That sweep was a statement. The Mariners were no longer playing in Houston’s shadow. 

Seattle finally breaks Houston’s hold on the AL West

It’s not just Mariners fans enjoying this collapse. Across baseball, rival fanbases are savoring the sight of Houston unraveling. Ever since the sign-stealing scandal tarnished their reputation after the 2019 World Series, the Astros have carried the weight of being baseball’s villains. They kept winning anyway, fueling resentment year after year. Now, with Houston limping to the finish line, it feels like long-overdue justice for fans who have been waiting to see the dynasty stumble.

The timing couldn’t have been more brutal for Houston. After leaving Seattle battered, the Astros stumbled into Sacramento and dropped two more games to the Athletics, a team with nothing left to play for but pride. Five straight losses later, Houston has been left clinging to fading playoff odds. What should have been a routine tune-up to lock down a Wild Card spot has spiraled into a nightmare.

And the math doesn’t lie. All Houston needed to do was handle their business — winning four out of their final six games against the Athletics and the Los Angeles Angels should have guaranteed a Wild Card berth. Instead, they’ve squandered the opportunity, already dropping the series to Oakland and leaving themselves with just a 24.4 percent chance to reach the postseason. In a year where the Tigers, Guardians, and Red Sox are scrapping for position, the Astros had every chance to withstand the chaos. 

For Mariners fans, this collapse is more than sweet — it’s symbolic. After years of being reminded who owned the AL West, Seattle finally landed the punch that made the powerhouse stagger. The sweep didn’t just boost the Mariners’ own playoff positioning; it marked a turning point in the division.

If Houston’s reign is truly ending, it’s Seattle that forced the changing of the guard. And while MLB fans everywhere are reveling in the Astros’ stumble, it’s the Mariners who get to celebrate the loudest.