Astros AM: Postseason Hopes Continue to Fade

Sep 26, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) is unable to make a play on a ground ball during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) is unable to make a play on a ground ball during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Astros are fading quickly in the chase for the postseason.

Welp…the Houston Astros can probably, no most definitely, kiss their postseason hopes goodbye.

Following last night’s deflating extra innings loss to the Seattle Mariners, the 2016 Astros season draws near to its final conclusion with five games to go. The team now trails the Baltimore Orioles by 3.5 games for the final Wild Card spot.

The Astros playoff chances courtesy of Fangraphs drop to a measly 1.3%. Or 2% if you follow FiveThirtyEight.

So mathematically still in it. But for all intents and purposes, last night’s defeat was the one that realistically drove the team out of the race. With five games to go, the Astros would have to win out and receive help. Yeah, good luck with that pipe dream.

Of course, there has been crazier sequence of events to take place in baseball. There are still five games left to ultimately decide the Wild Card race. This is an Astros team that has shown noticeable effort and heart despite the injuries and tough schedule over the past two months. Even though the results haven’t been there, good things usually happen sooner or later when there is effort.

Who knows, maybe this team can pull off five wins in a row then see Baltimore turn around and lose their remaining games. Probably not though.

Next: Astros: Bill Brown Retires From Broadcast Booth

It doesn’t help that the Astros chose to have their worst month since their 7-17 April. At the end of the day, this is a missed opportunity for a young team. But, hey, at least the future is still bright for 2017.

**Statistics provided by Baseball Reference, FiveThirtyEight, and Fangraphs**