[ad_1]
For the fourth time in the past five years, the Houston Astros are the AL West champions. The Astros won the divisional title Thursday night with a 3-2 win over the Rays (scoring the box) thanks in part to a timely home run from Carlos Correa. This is the 10th divisional title in franchise history, including Houston’s time in West NL and Central NL.
The Astros will face the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS, which begins next Thursday.
All three divisions of the American League have now been taken down. The Rays won the AL East and the White Sox won the AL Central, leaving the two wild cards as the only race in the league. The Yankees are currently in first place while the Red Sox, Mariners and Blue Jays are battling for last place. However, the races of the three divisions are over.
Tampa has already set the best record in the American League, the Astros are therefore locked up against the White Sox in the ALDS. However, Houston has yet to secure home ground advantage for this series, so it’s next on their to-do list. The ALDS is scheduled to start on Thursday, October 7.
As usual, the Astros have been led by a powerful offense this year. They are second in baseball in points scored per game while having the lowest strikeout rate in the game. Faithful Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel led the way, more Kyle Tucker’s escape helped compensate when Michael Brantley and Alex Bregman ran out of time due to injuries.
Houston is also among the top five allowed points pitchers per game and per ERA + team. Lance McCullers Jr. will get the backing of Cy Young and Luis Garcia is firmly in the Rookie of the Year mix. Veteran Zack Greinke has struggled lately, although Jake Odorizzi, José Urquidy and Framber Valdez are giving the club options. Plus, Ryan Pressly has been closer to lockdown all year.
The Astros positioned themselves to win four division titles in five years with an aggressive rebuild that saw the club lose 324 games from 2011 to 2013. The rebuild led to a lasting championship-caliber core and spawned copycats across the league, though none have been as successful as the Astros.
Houston has reached the ALCS every year since 2017 and it’s worth noting that this is their first division title – and their first season with fans in the stands – since the sign-theft scandal erupted. the last offseason. They’ve been booed on the road all season and that will no doubt continue into October.
The Astros are the seventh team to land a playoff berth this year, joining the Cardinals, Brewers, Giants, Dodgers, Rays and White Sox.
[ad_2]
Source link