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The Houston Astros have sights on the Rangers and Yankees in playoff chase.
The Astros could tie with the Yankees and Rangers
Oct 3, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Houston Astros second baseman
Jose Altuve(27) celebrates a home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the dugout during the fifth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Astros have sights on the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees in the playoff chase. In a season that saw the high soaring Astros take a nose dive in September to not only lose the division lead, but they also lost the Wild-Card 2 slot as well. With some improved play, the Astros currently have control of the Wild-Card 1 for the moment with a one game lead. The Astros may have been cold in September, but they are red-hot now with the Yankees and Rangers struggling to get wins all of a sudden. If the Astros win today, they can put themselves in a very favorable position if everything falls into place today.
Before you read on, you can read some recent CTH playoffs coverage below.
To be on the safe side, time to sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks
Carlos Correa set franchise records, move closer to playoff berth
Updated Playoff Scenarios Following Friday’s Games
BewariZona – The Ultimate Trap Games Before the Playoffs
Here are the feelings of Astros fans summarized in a Tweet by the Astros GM Jeff Luhnow.
You ever wake up and realize you don't know where you are going to end up tonight? @astros #162 #163?
— Jeff Luhnow (@jluhnow) October 4, 2015
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Next: Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers
Sep 26, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) runs past Texas Rangers shortstop
Elvis Andrus(1) after hitting a home run in the eighth inning at Minute Maid Park. Astros won 9 to 7. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Astros fans have had conflicted feelings over the past few days, not knowing whether to root for the Los Angeles Angels or the Rangers. The original thought was that we wanted the Angels to lose, because the Astros have struggled on the road this season. If the Astros were to lose a game, they would lose their one game advantage over the Angels. Astros fans were hesitantly rooting for the Rangers.
Maybe that wasn’t the right choice to make as the Astros have won the first two games of the Arizona Diamondbacks series while Texas has dropped two games to the Angels. Yesterday I wrote about how the Astros need to be on the safe side, time to sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks. I have switched my allegiance, and I am now rooting for the Angels to win today’s game versus the Rangers. While this could be an issue if the Astros are unable to win today, but the Astros would then play a play-in game on Monday night versus the Angels. The only way the Angels get into the playoff picture is through the Astros. I do have tickets for that game if it happens, do you?
However, the plus side is if the Astros and Angels both win today, the Angles will be eliminated, and the Astros will now be tied with the Rangers for the AL West title. The Astros sat on top of the AL West for most of the 2015 season, so it would be fitting for them to finish ahead of the Rangers. Let’s slow down, I skipped a step, the Astros would have to play a tie-breaker game Monday night at Globe Life Park. This is not a favorable location for the Astros as the Rangers have been the Astros daddy all year-long dominating at Globe Life Park. But, the Rangers are having an Astros-like September nose dive, they are vulnerable at the moment.
The winner would go on to play the Kansas City Royals or whoever has the second-best record following today’s play. The loser would then host a Wild-Card game in which the Yankees will come to town. Can you imagine how much a disadvantage that would be for the Yankees?
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Next: The Yankees
The Yankees
Aug 26, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter
Evan Gattis(11) rounds the basses after his home run in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s say that the Rangers win, the Astros win, and the Yankees lose today’s games. The Yankees currently have a hold on the Wild-Card 1 slot by one game. Should the Baltimore Orioles beat the Yankees today, the Astros and Yankees would have an identical record. Due to the Astros head to head matchup with the Yankees, the Houston Astros would have the home-field advantage by being the Wild-Card 1 team. The Yankees would come to Houston where the Astros have one of the best home records in baseball. Possibly facing Dallas Keuchel again gives the Yankees bad dreams.
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However, if the Yankees and Ranger both win today, the order will stay the same.
AL West: Texas Rangers
Wild-Card 1: New York Yankees
Wild-Card 2: Houston Astros
At this moment, I am okay with whatever happens. Any outcome that happens today will not result in the Astros’ season ending today. This is an exciting format in the MLB playoffs with the extra Wild-Card slot, it has brought interest back to baseball with all the possibilities. I have not seen so much interest in Houston about the Astros baseball in a while. Go Astros, just win and the rest will play out.