HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – The Houston Astros’ celebration of their seventh American League West title since 2017 will have to wait after the Seattle Mariners avoided a division title-crushing loss at Minute Maid Park.
The above video is from ABC13 Houston’s 24/7 streaming channel.
Entering Monday, the Astros had the magic number of 2 to win the division. The magic number for qualifying for the postseason is calculated by a team’s win and the losses of the closest team. Houston was capable of claiming both its win and the Mariners’ loss at any point in this final home series for the Astros. Its next chance comes Tuesday in the second game of the series.
Given the team’s rocky start to the 2024 season, an Astros win was unlikely. New manager Joe Espada’s team was below .500 in its first 81 games. In addition, Houston hit its lowest point of the year on June 18, when the Astros lost to the worst team in the majors, the Chicago White Sox, and fell 10 games behind Seattle.
Since the White Sox loss, Houston has been on a rebound, going 15-6 between that game and July 19, when the Astros clinched first place in the division. A simultaneous slump by Seattle (8-16) has aided Houston during that run.
Victor Robles of the Seattle Mariners scores an RBI single behind Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Houston.
AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox
The division title guarantees that Houston will begin the postseason with a home game, but whether that first game will be in the AL Wild Card Series or the Division Series has yet to be decided.
Houston is five games behind the No. 2 seed Cleveland Guardians who have a bye into the ALDS. Houston must win its remaining games and the Guardians must not lose in the coming days to improve its chances of a home berth. All of this is just to mention that the Astros and Guardians face each other in the final three games of the season, starting this Friday.
Otherwise, Houston, with the worst record of division winners, would begin its postseason in the Wild Card Series against the AL’s third Wild Card team. That best-of-three series begins Tuesday, October 1, with the winner moving on to face possibly Cleveland in the ALDS.
A celebration on Monday would have been marred depending on how Yordan Alvarez’s knee was diagnosed. The Astros sidelined the slugger in Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Angels after he slid into second base and suffered a bruised right knee. Espada said Alvarez was in “quite a bit of pain” and would have to undergo imaging of his knee.
Postseason aspirations aside, Monday also marked the last time the Astros wore their Space City Connect uniforms, which debuted during the team’s 2022 season.
Eyewitness Sports is ready to bring you the celebration of starting Houston’s road to a third World Series title. Tune into ABC13 all fall to follow the ‘Stros.
SEE ALSO: Jose Altuve’s barefoot ejection creates the latest wild moment in Stros history
Jose Altuve of the Astros points to his foot after removing his sock and shoe during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in San Diego.
AP Photo/Gregory Bull
Astros star Jose Altuve’s act of kindness during baseball game gives boy “best moment”
The new Astro, known for needing 14 hours of sleep, debuts with 11 kilometers
Houston Astros starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi takes the field to warm up before a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Houston.
AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox
Copyright © 2024 KTRK-TV. All rights reserved.
