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Questions surrounding the Astros as the ALDS approaches
By Cody Poage
The Astros finish off the 2018 regular season in Baltimore before heading home to prepare for the Indians in the upcoming ALDS. But there are legit questions about the defending champion.
The postseason in baseball, more or less, is a crapshoot decided by a combination of skill, luck, and optimal circumstances. Unlike the playoff systems in the NBA or NFL most of the time, the baseball postseason doesn’t always crown the best team in the sport. Even the best team has questions marks during the postseason. The Astros aren’t excluded from this list.
Surrounding all postseason-bound teams are various questions about the state of their rosters. Who’ll start? How about the bullpen, especially in light of today’s usage? Potential opponents and favorable matchups? Injury concerns and quality depth? Depending on the venue, a day or night game may determine the winner of a series. All are valid questions and concerns as ten teams aim for a shot at a World Series title.
As we all know, the Astros will play the Indians in the ALDS. But Houston does have questions to answer regardless of their opponent. If the team has a single misstep in this process alone, it could mean lower chances for another World Series title.