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Houston Astros Projected To Make Postseason Despite Setbacks
The Houston Astros have won at least 95 games every year since 2017, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season,
In the 60-game 2020 campaign, the Astros still made the playoffs despite a 29-31 record and almost made it to the World Series. They fell to the Tampa Bay Rays in seven games during the American League Championship Series after falling behind 3-0.
Houston currently remains in a three-way race for the AL West crown with the intrastate rival Texas Rangers and the suddenly-streaking Seattle Mariners.
It’s something not many projected when the season started in March, but could have been expected considering the numerous blows to the Astros' starting rotation.
Some much needed team-boosting trades at the deadline have helped solidify a Houston squad on the cusp of making back-to-back World Series titles a reality.
Yes, Houston needs to make the playoffs first and foremost before any of that chatter begins, but if history is on their side, the Astros should still find themselves in postseason play despite the multiple setbacks throughout the season.
Will they win the AL West outright?
It’s still a possibility, but even if they don’t, they should still be able to get in as one of the AL Wild Card teams. Right now, they're holding the last spot in the standings, sitting two-and-a-half games above the Toronto Blue Jays entering Sunday.
Once October rolls around, everyone across the league knows how dangerous Houston is to play.
For now, it’s one game at a time as August comes to a close and the final month of games looms on the horizon.
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