In Two Months, The Houston Astros Have Gone from Last Place to a Winning Record

Two months ago today, I wrote about the Houston Astros surprisingly poor start to the 2024 season:

From where I sit, the biggest surprise through the end of April is the Houston Astros finding themselves in last place in the AL West with a 10-19 record entering May 1st. 

Since 2017, the Astros have won six of the last seven AL West titles, four AL pennants and two World Series titles albeit in controversial fashion.

Considering these circumstances, I cannot imagine anyone had them behind the soon to be and wandering Oakland A's at the any point in the season and yet here we are. 

Yet I cannot imagine the Astros being in the cellar for very long. 

I made this argument because at the time the most of the Astros' starting rotation was on the IL and the AL West is MLB's weakest division.

Well, the Astros have not been in last place since May 11th. In the past two months, the Astros have gone 33-22 with a MLB best 17-8 mark in June and yesterday finally climbed over the .500 mark with a 10-5 extra inning win over the New York Mets. Today, they spoiled Canada Day for the Toronto Blue Jays with a 3-1 victory which puts them at 43-41 for the 2024 season. The Astros are now only 3 games back of the division leading Seattle Mariners. 

As is often said, baseball is a marathon, not a sprint. The Astros dug themselves a hole but found their way out of it. There were complaints about new Astros manager Joe Espada amid their slow start. Today not so much. 

Despite some grumbling, it would have made no more sense to fire Joe Espada after a bad month than it would to ask Joe Biden to abandon his re-election campaign after a bad night. Democrats take note.