Houston Astros, despite recent skid, remain American League favorites
After appearing invincible for most of the season, the Houston Astros have hit a rough stretch. Getting healthy should restore their winning ways.
The Houston Astros‘ 8-3 loss at the hands of the Texas Rangers on Saturday night was not only another series loss for the once dominant Astros, but was their ninth loss in 11 games. They picked up a victory yesterday, but it was just the third in their last 10 contests. Despite this, the team still has command over the AL West by 12 games over the Los Angeles Angels. Is this recent skid horrendous, and do fans need to be concerned? Absolutely, but let’s not forget the injuries this team is currently handling.
As it stands, Evan Gattis, Will Harris, Carlos Correa and Lance McCullers are all on the DL. George Springer and Dallas Keuchel only recently returned. So what am I trying to say? What I’m saying is this team is still the clear-cut favorite to be playing in the Fall Classic, even playing as poorly as it is, and here’s why.
When the Astros get their players back from the DL, they are going to have roughly a month to get back into the swing of things prior to the playoffs. The biggest priority right now for Houston is to clinch the division, and in doing so secure home field advantage for at least the first round. The biggest thing the organization has left on the table before October rolls around is being the top overall team in the postseason. This gives a young roster home field advantage when teams like the Red Sox and Yankees arrive in October.
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The Astros will more than likely play host to the winner of the AL Wild Card game to start things off, and if things got started today they would be looking at the winner of the New York Yankees and either the Minnesota Twins or Los Angeles Angels.
The Astros have played fantastic baseball against the upper tier of the American League this season, and while the National League is less of a conversation given the recent dominance of the Dodgers, the American League playoffs are anyone’s game.
Even after dropping five straight, they hold one of the largest division leads in the majors, and even though the Angels have won five straight of their own and moved from 17 games back to 12, there is still no cause for concern.
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So, Astros nation, don’t be worried and don’t even think about the remainder of the regular season. When this team is back to full health and firing on all cylinders, not even the Yankees’ bank account is going to be enough to stop it from its long overdue return to the World Series.