Houston Astros Playoff Situations: Can They Nonetheless Make the Postseason?

The Houston Astros stay within the postseason image, however their playoff scenario leaves an essential query — with all three Wild Card spots now taken within the American League, can the Astros make the playoffs?

Right here’s a breakdown of the Astros’ playoff situations, together with what Houston must clinch a spot and what may go away them on the surface trying in for the postseason.

The Astros can’t clinch a playoff berth Thursday night time, however the American League West title stays theirs to take with 4 video games left, and actually, profitable the division is one in all solely two situations that might get them to the postseason, and it appears just like the extra possible one.

Houston made eight straight postseasons and gained two World Sequence titles earlier than being shut out final October, and a second straight miss may be very a lot on the desk.

Texas overtook Houston on Thursday afternoon, beating the New York Mets 3-1 to maneuver a half-game away from the Astros on the prime of the AL West, in accordance with ESPN‘s recreation recap. The Rangers sit at 79-80. Houston is 78-80 and opens a four-game collection on the Athletics tonight.

Houston Astros’ AL West Clinching Situations

Houston holds the tiebreaker. The Astros gained the season collection from Texas 9-4 with a plus-23 run differential, so a tie within the standings fingers them the division, in accordance with MLB.com‘s Andrew Simon.

Any mixture of Astros wins and Rangers losses totaling 4 clinches the division. Texas performs three video games at Minnesota starting Friday, Simon reported.

The situations break down cleanly. A 4-0 sweep of the Athletics provides Houston an 82-80 end and the title, no matter Texas does. At 3-1, the Astros win the West except the Rangers sweep Minnesota.

At 2-2, Houston wants Texas to win no multiple recreation. At 1-3, the Rangers should lose all three. At 0-4, Texas wins the division regardless.

No division winner within the divisional period has completed under .500, and the closest name was the 2005 Padres at 82-80, in accordance with Simon. Each AL West golf equipment at present sit two video games below .500.

A second-place end within the West all however ends the season. The Yankees and Pink Sox have clinched the primary two wild playing cards, and the Chicago White Sox have additionally clinched a playoff spot.

Houston Astros’ Attainable Playoff Opponent

A West title would make Houston the AL’s No. 3 seed, with a house best-of-three Wild Card Sequence towards the No. 6 seed and no first-round bye, Simon reported.

The opponent will depend on the AL Central. Cleveland led Chicago 82-76 to 81-77 coming into Thursday, and the White Sox personal the tiebreaker if the 2 end degree.

If Cleveland holds the division, the Chicago White Sox slide into the No. 6 seed and journey to Houston. If Chicago wins the Central, the Guardians fall to the final wild card and develop into the Astros’ first-round opponent.

Texas has not gained the division since 2016, although the Rangers triumphed within the 2023 World Sequence as a wild card staff. Houston is chasing what can be its eighth division title in a 10-season span.

Houston performs all 4 remaining video games at Sutter Well being Park in West Sacramento, whereas Texas travels to Minnesota. By Sunday night time, the Astros will most definitely both maintain a division title or face a second consecutive October at residence.

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