The Houston Astros defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 to clinch their fourth AL West title in five years. Houston has also now made the post-season in six of the last seven seasons.
After reaching the post-season in shortened 2020 COVID season with a losing record, the Astros earned this division title. Although the Oakland A's had the upper hand during May and most of June, the Astros took over top spot on June 21st in the midst of an 11-game winning streak and never looked back.
Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel regained their form this year while Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker will be mainstays for years to come. Even with Zack Greinke on the IL, the Astros have a solid starting rotation with Lance McCullers, Luis Garcia, Framber Valdez, Jose Urquidy and Jake Odorizzi and a solid closer in Ryan Pressly.
Although there is no evidence of shenanigans with Dusty Baker at the helm, the Astros remain villains to baseball fans outside of Houston and will be lustily jeered in a way that couldn't happen last year - especially if they should face the New York Yankees in a rematch of their 2017 ALCS. But the Astros cannot look past the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS.
With all divisions in the AL now with champions all that remains is the AL Wild Card slots. The New York Yankees have the top slot with the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners tied for the second berth. The Toronto Blue Jays still have a chance at one game back of the Red Sox and Mariners. The Mariners might be disappointed in not winning the AL West but if they earn an AL Wild Card berth it will mark their first post-season appearance in 20 years.
As for Houston, for the moment, there no problems.
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