Astros Clinch AL West Division Title, First Round Bye in MLB Postseason
Less than 24 hours after they punched their ticket to the postseason, the Houston Astros locked up an American League West division title and a first round bye in the MLB playoffs.
The Astros entered Sunday one game back of the Texas Rangers for first place in the AL West. Dusty Baker's club received help from a division rival, as the Seattle Mariners blanked the Rangers 1-0 in their season finale Sunday. Meanwhile, Houston pummeled Arizona 8-1, completing a sweep of the Diamondbacks and securing a bye in the American League playoffs.
The Astros and Rangers finish the season tied for first place with identical 90-72 records. Since Houston defeated Texas nine of 13 times, the Astros own the head-to-head record over the Rangers, making them division champions for the third-straight year.
The Astros will skip the AL Wild Card Series, and have homefield advantage in the ALDS. They will play the winner of the Minnesota Twins-Toronto Blue Jays series, which will take place at Target Field this week in the AL Wild Card Series.
The Rangers will travel to Tampa Bay for a best-of-three series with the Rays. The winner of that series will have a date with the AL's best, the Baltimore Orioles.
The Astros will now have the week off to rest their pitching staff and prepare for the ALDS. They will not play again until Saturday.
The American League and National League Wild Card Series will begin Tuesday, with all of the round's games airing on ESPN.
The Astros have now won the AL West six times over the last seven seasons. The only year during that stretch that the club did not finish as division champions was 2020, in the COVID-19-shortened season. The Astros have not missed the playoffs since 2016.
