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Houston Astros: Setting June’s Magic Number at 14

By Clint Irle

May 29, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Houston Astros center fielder Jake Marisnick (6) congratulates third baseman Alex Bregman (2) on his home run which also scored first baseman Marwin Gonzalez (9) during the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports
May 29, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Houston Astros center fielder Jake Marisnick (6) congratulates third baseman Alex Bregman (2) on his home run which also scored first baseman Marwin Gonzalez (9) during the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Houston Astros met my Magic Number of 5 divisional wins in May but destroyed my 17-12 expectations with an astounding 22-7 record for the entire month.

Let’s take a look at what June has to offer and what we should expect from our Houston Astros.

Set the Bar High

The Astros have taken the MLB by storm and separated themselves from the rest of the AL West. The team is playing at the highest level, with the highest confidence. All in all, they have made it clear they are legitimate contenders for the World Series. The two things that stand out for the month of May is the sweep against a divisional leader in the Twins, and being swept by the defending AL Champs, the Indians.

What’s in store for June

The Astros will play all four divisional opponents this month, starting off with a three-game series in Arlington against the Rangers. They will then travel to play the Royals in a four-game set. Next, Houston will host the Angels for a three-game series. The Rangers will come back to Minute Maid Park for another three-game set.

After a day off, the Houston Astros will host the Red Sox for a three-game series. The team will then hit the road for series against the Athletics and Mariners. Lastly, the team will host the Athletics for three games, and host the Yankees on Friday, June 30th, to wrap up the month.

What’s the Magic Number?

First of all, the Astros proved me very wrong last month, and I respectfully apologize for that. I was considering that they would be facing teams who were carrying momentum and trending with winning records. Therefore, I will make a prediction based on the overwhelming fact that this team is really good.

Divisional Magic Number

Obviously, the Astros are in control of the fate in the division. Most notably, they are in place to dictate their divisional opponents schedule and strategy. I want the Astros to win 14 of the 19 divisional games. This forces divisional opponents to play harder against each other and the rest of the American League. This would not only give them an easier route against the division, but it will force the rest of the AL to play differently and worry more about their postseason future.

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Overall Magic Number

The Houston Astros will play eight games against non-divisional opponents. I want them to win 5 of these games. They will have a chance to avenge their poor series against the Royals from April and will get an opportunity to test the waters against a potential playoff opponent in the Red Sox. All in all, a record of `9-8 for the month of June would be perfect in the Houston Astros “Big Picture” Plans

***Stats and Data gathered from MLB.com***

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