Astros clinch AL West: Houston wins division title for sixth time in seven years, pass Rangers on last day

For the sixth time in the last seven seasons, the Houston Astros have received the American League West division. The handiest yr since 2016 they were not division champs used to be the abbreviated 2020 season and so they ended up in the ALCS anyway. 

The 2023 title hung in the steadiness till the overall day of the season and the Astros wanted lend a hand. They were given that help in the type of a Mariners win over the Rangers (SEA 1, TEX 0). The Astros additionally needed to handle their very own industry in Arizona and did so with an 8-1 victory. Cristian Javier threw rather well and Alex Bregman had a large recreation on the plate. 

Once once more, the Astros reign very best in this division.

This season used to be slightly the curler coaster for the protecting World Series champs. They trailed by way of 6.5 video games at one level and handiest ended up sitting in first position for 24 days. They have been by no means even by myself in first position till Sept. 2. They held a lead till Sept. 20, however then have been swept at house by way of the lowly Royals and fell 2.5 video games again. The Mariners taking two of 3 from the Rangers left the door open and the Astros ended up 90-72, the very same document because the Rangers. The Astros received the season sequence over the Rangers, in somewhat emphatic style, 9 video games to 4, so that they win the division with that tiebreaker. 

Looping again to that sweep by the hands of the Royals, one of the crucial funky issues about this Astros season used to be enjoying so poorly at house. They end an excellent 51-30 on the street, however they went simply 39-42 at house. It used to be their first dropping document at house since 2014. 

Regardless, they now head to October the place they have got been an absurdly difficult out. While greater than a handful of 100-win groups have had early exits in the last decade, the Astros have complicated to no less than the ALCS every of the last six seasons. Their effects: 

2017: Won World Series
2018: Lost ALCS
2019: Lost World Series
2020: Lost ALCS
2021: Lost World Series
2022: Won World Series

They’ll as soon as once more get started previous the Wild Card Series, because the Astros earned the second one seed in the AL and get a bye to the ALDS. They’ll look forward to the winner of the Blue Jays-Twins sequence, whilst the opposite aspect of the bracket sees the Orioles ready on the winner of the Rangers-Rays sequence.