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Astros claw back in AL West race
22 Jun
Summary
- Astros secure third consecutive series win, improving recent record.
- Team overcomes significant early-season injuries to key players.
- Houston is positioned to be within three games of AL West lead.
The Houston Astros are demonstrating a slow but steady resurgence in the American League West Division. Their recent 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday marked their third consecutive series win, improving their record to 17-11 in their last 28 games. This consistent performance keeps them relevant in a division race where mediocrity has been beneficial.
Injuries significantly impacted the Astros early in the season, with crucial players like Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Tatsuya Imai landing on the injured list. The absence of slugger Jeremy Pena and third baseman also added to the team's challenges. At one point, on May 20, the Astros struggled with a 20-31 record and were six games behind in the division.
A sweep of the Chicago Cubs provided a spark, followed by a series win against the Texas Rangers. After a brief slowdown with series losses to Milwaukee and Pittsburgh, Houston has regained momentum. They have since won series against the Athletics, Kansas City, Detroit, and Cleveland, entering Monday's game in Toronto no worse than three games out of the AL West lead.
