Insides as Astros Make History: Achieving a Milestone Not Seen in 35 Years on Their Division Title Chase!
They say you can’t win a division in April, but you can lose one. Evidently, that’s not the case for the Houston Astros.
There’s an old adage that says, “You can’t win a division in April, but you can lose one.” However, the Houston Astros proved those rules don’t hold true, bouncing back from a disastrous start to clinch the American League West title on Tuesday night.
On June 18, the Astros found themselves trailing the Seattle Mariners by as many as 10 games, but they rallied and defeated the Mariners 4-3 to secure the crown.
While the Mariners played a part in relinquishing their division lead, the Astros’ comeback is nothing short of historic.
According to Sarah Langs from MLB.com:
WHAT A TURNAROUND
The Astros began the season at 12-24, joining an exclusive club of teams that made the playoffs after losing at least 24 of their first 36 games:
- 1914 Boston Braves: 11-25
- 1989 Blue Jays: 12-24
- 1981 Royals: 12-24 (split season, finished 1st in the second half)
WHAT A TURNAROUND
the Astros started 12-24
only other teams to make playoffs after losing at least 24 of their first 36 decisions:
1914 Boston Braves: 11-25
1989 Blue Jays: 12-24
1981 Royals: 12-24 (split season, finished 1st in div in 2nd half)— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 25, 2024
The Astros’ determination this year has been impressive, especially considering the challenges they’ve faced. They started with a first-year manager, Joe Espada, who was still learning the ropes. Additionally, they lost starting pitchers José Urquidy, Cristian Javier, and JP France to season-ending injuries. Lance McCullers and Luis García have yet to play due to their recoveries from injuries, and Justin Verlander missed a significant part of the season and hasn’t been quite himself when he has pitched.
Despite these setbacks, players like Ronel Blanco have stepped up to help keep the team competitive.
Currently, the Astros are positioned as the No. 3 seed in the American League playoffs, where they would face the final wild card team, which is the Kansas City Royals at this time.