The Houston Astros have all but clinched the top seed in the American League postseason, but manager Dusty Baker isn’t planning to let up on the gas as the 2022 regular season winds down.
Houston Astros playing “for the integrity of the game” in final six games of season
The Houston Astros will have a six-game homestand to end the regular season, playing the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies at Minute Maid Park. That is also one of the sites where the ALDS will open play on October 11 after the Astros have enjoyed the bye and some time away from the diamond.
While Houston knows its fate, the two teams the Astros play to end the regular season (the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies) do not. Tampa Bay enters Thursday night’s game in Cleveland against the Guardians just a half-game ahead of the Seattle Mariners for the fifth seed in the AL postseason bracket. Meanwhile, the Phillies have lost two straight in Chicago against the Cubs and play at Wrigley Field on Thursday afternoon just a half-game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card standings.
There is a lot at stake for the two teams coming to Houston for the regular season’s final homestand, and that is why Baker is not planning to rest any of his starters ahead of the postseason.
Dusty Baker said this is the final scheduled off day of the regular season for his everyday guys. He plans on playing his regulars against the Rays and Phillies, both of whom are vying for playoff spots, “for the integrity of the game.”
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) September 28, 2022
Baker’s mindset is simple: He knows his team has some off days coming during the Wild Card round. Let his team give its best effort in the final homestand so if the Rays or Phillies grab victories in Houston, they were well-earned wins.
Sure, Baker risks an injury before the postseason by playing his regulars, but he also avoids the spotlight of scrutiny, something the high-flying Astros have done for most of the season already.