The Houston Astros are inevitable.
A team that on June 18 was 10 games behind the Seattle Mariners in the American League West standings just clinched another division title Tuesday night with a 4-3 victory against the Mariners.
The Astros have now won the West seven times in the past eight seasons. This year was perhaps Houston’s most nonlinear display of dominance. Justin Verlander struggled. Right-hander Cristian Javier was among a list of inopportune injuries. Yet pitching prowess and a lineup that still boasts Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman fueled Houston’s red-hot finish to June and a scorching summer that carried them back to first place.
WE OWN THE WEST.
The 2024 American League West Champions pic.twitter.com/C50Q9fT1dY
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 25, 2024
A pitching staff led by Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown delivered its share of potent moments. Ronel Blanco, the team’s latest unearthed pitching gem, twirled a no-hitter on April 2 and carried on the momentum for much of the season. A trade for Yusei Kikuchi at the deadline bolstered the pitching staff, and now here at the end of September, the Astros again stand above their competition in the AL West.
As the defending-champion Rangers buckled and the Mariners’ offense ran on fumes, the Astros again proved their supremacy, this time in longtime bench coach Joe Espada’s first season as manager.
Champagne celebrations are nothing new for this team’s core. Including wild-card berths, this is Houston’s ninth playoff appearance in 10 seasons. Just when doubts set in about the longevity of Houston’s dynasty, the Astros are raising another flag.
(Photo: Tim Warner / Getty Images)
