Astros: 4 Quick Stats Boding Well for Team’s Playoff Run

The Houston Astros feature a top-five record in the majors. Read on for powerful metrics that bode well for their playoff potency.

With roughly 15 games left on the regular season schedule, the Houston Astros appear comfortably in control of their playoff berth destiny. Among all AL West teams, the Astros feature the best record in the division—including a seven-game lead on second-place Oakland.

What’s more, the Astros feature the fifth best winning percentage in all of baseball. ESPN projects the Astros as a near lock for a playoff berth, with a staggering 99.7 percent probability to reach the postseason.

But besides possessing the second-best record in the American League, how do the Astros stack up in several key categories?

1) Team batting average: First

Did you know that the Houston Astros feature the highest team batting average in all of the majors? Houston’s .269 average reflects contributions from the likes of Yuli Gurriel and Michael Brantley, both of whom feature averages hovering around .315 with mere weeks left in the season. The Astros recently placed Brantley on the injured list, and the All-Star outfielder should resume action before the regular season ends.

Trailing Gurriel and Brantley, Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker feature batting averages that sit in the .290’s, each posing a chance to finish the season above .300.

2) Team earned run average: Fourth

Despite bullpen uncertainty, the Astros lead the way with an American League-best team ERA of 3.71—good for fourth best in the bigs. The Astros feature four starters with a sub-4.00 ERA. Perhaps no Astros pitcher has performed better so far this season than Lance McCullers, Jr., who leads the team with 12 wins and all Astros starters with a 3.12 ERA.

3) Team hits: First

Believe it or not, the 2021 Astros lead all 30 major league franchises in number of hits. The Astros currently sit at 1,363 hits on the season, representing one of only three teams to have reached 1,300 knocks by this point of the year.

4) Team run differential: Second

So how talented are the Astros at scoring runs, and limiting opponents from doing the same? Out of all 30 major league clubs, the Astros rank second in run differential with nearly 200 more runs scored than they have surrendered to their competition. The Astros currently only trail the reigning World Series champion Dodgers.

With AL playoff matchups yet to be announced, the Houston Astros feature more than a track record of recent postseason success. The ball club also possesses promising statistics representing a solid depth chart preparing to pose a formidable challenge to any opponent during October baseball.