In spite of losing to the Rangers, the Astros secured a fourth successive season finisher billet and the last season finisher spot in the American League on Friday when the Angels tumbled to the Dodgers 9-5.
The Astros lost 5-4 out of 10 innings on Friday. In any case, at 29-29 and in runner up in the AL West, they are three games in front of the Angels and secured in the No. 6 seed in the AL end of the season games with two games to play. It’s the first run through since 2016 that Houston didn’t win the AL West.
The Astros are the fifth group director Dusty Baker has taken to the postseason (Giants, Cubs, Reds, Nationals).
The last two days of the customary season will decide cultivating and matchups for the trump card round.
How the Astros arrived
Jake Kaplan, Astros beat essayist: The 2020 Astros were probably the greatest recipient of MLB’s extended postseason design. In an ordinary season, their dash of continuous postseason appearances would end at three. However, it’s really telling about their exhibition in this abbreviated season that even with the extended field, they didn’t secure until the third-to-a day ago of the period.
By the numbers
Kaplan: Even after you represent their loss of 2019 AL Rookie of the Year Yordan Álvarez to prepare finishing knee medical procedure, the Astros’ offense has incomprehensibly underachieved this season. This is especially the situation in the slugging office. Through 58 games, they have a .408 slugging rate as a group. Last season, they set an establishment precedent by slugging .495.
What’s straightaway
Kaplan: Now that they’re secured in a season finisher spot and can’t develop their cultivating, the Astros watch for any updates of their rival for the special case round. Since they secured before Saturday, they will have the option to arrange their pitching however they pick. They’ll send a warm up area game on Saturday and possibly on Sunday, also.
Zack Greinke is attempted to be their Game 1 starter on Tuesday, however it’s dubious regarding how the Astros will balance their postseason turn between Lance McCullers, Framber Valdez and José Urquidy on Wednesday and Thursday. It will rely to some degree upon the matchup.
