The Houston Astros are right back in the thick of the AL West hunt, sitting just two games behind the division-leading Texas Rangers. This team, which missed the postseason last year, is currently three games under .500, but things could be way worse if not for some serious recent momentum.
A Huge Week Puts Them Back in the Hunt
Seriously, their record could have been a disaster. But last week, the Astros went off, stacking up a 5-1 record. They started by sweeping a three-game series against the Miami Marlins, then kept that energy going to take two of three games from the Chicago White Sox, a team that’s been playing well. This surge is largely thanks to Yordan Alvarez and what he’s been doing with the bat, carrying the club when they needed it most. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter clearly noticed, bumping the team up a few spots in his latest power rankings from No. 22 to No. 17.
Showdown With the Division Leader Looms
Reuter nailed it when he said the Astros “continue to do just enough to hang around in the gray area between buyer and seller.” With that 5-1 week, they’re only two games back in the standings. He specifically called out a “big three-game series with the Texas Rangers at home” coming up this weekend. That’s where Houston could really “seize control of a wide-open division race.” Before that, though, they’ve got to take on the Los Angeles Angels, starting on Monday. A good run here, and everything could completely flip for the Astros.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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