5 Reasons The Astros Remain a World Series Contender

For the first time in a full season of their Golden Era, the Astros are in unfamiliar territory halfway through August. They trail the Rangers by 3.5 games in the AL West, and while some may say the sky is falling over (justified) lineup complaints and a subpar catcher, they still are a serious threat to win the World Series.

Though it's been a bumpier ride than usual, the Astros feel inevitable every October. Let's take a look at five reasons why the Astros remain a contender to win the World Series and become the first repeat champions since 2000.

#1: The Astros remain a favorite because they've been there before.

So much of baseball is analytical now. Stats like xBA, xwOBA, FIP and Stuff+ are all the rage. And those are incredibly valuable stats. But there is still something to be said about "feel" and "the human element" in the game of baseball.

Some of the best pitchers and hitters to ever live shrink when the lights are brightest. And some that have been underperformed rise to the occassion when the pressure is on. Look no further than what Jeremy Peña and Yuli Gurriel did for the Astros last October compared to what Aaron Judge did after his 61 home run regular season.

Throughout their reign, the Astros always seem to rise to the moment. The 2020 team finished the short season under .500 and still almost pulled off a comeback from down 3-0 in the ALCS. In 2021, an injury depleted team still had a shot at winning their second World Series in five years. And last year, down 2-1 in the World Series, they put together a combined no-hitter on the road and won three straight for their second title.

These Astros have continually met the moment while other contenders in the same window (Yankees and Dodgers) have repeatedly fallen short.

Much of the Rays roster hasn't been there before, and definitely not in a full season. The Rangers rotation is much improved, but Max Scherzer has struggled in the recent playoff history, and how will names like Adolis Garcia handle the pressures of October? The Blue Jays absolutely melted down last year in the Wild Card round against Seattle. The Orioles are great, but is their young core ready for the moment?

Now, that's not to say any one of those teams are incapable of rising to the occasion. But the Astros have proven that they answer the bell. This year, Houston is 15-10 this season against the Orioles, Rays, Braves, Dodgers, and Rangers. Against the five best records in baseball, the Astros are winning games at a 97-game clip.

When it's time to go, the Astros always find a way to go.

#2 The emergence of Chas McCormick.

Chas McCormick made one of the best plays in World Series history with his game-saving catch in Game 5 of the 2022 World Series.

He was a capable hitter last year, but has elevated to another level in 2023. Last year McCormick hit .245 with a .738 OPS and battled to earn playing time all season.

This year, McCormick has solidified his status as a lineup staple. He's hitting .284 with an .897 OPS. He's adjusted his stance and is doing damage on pitches on the inner-half, pulling over half of his home runs.

He did take Gerrit Cole deep in the ALCS last year, but was rather quiet in both the ALDS and World Series at the plate. McCormick now gives the Astros a serious threat at the plate in the bottom half of the order. His growth has only deepened what was already a great lineup.

#4 The return of Justin Verlander.

The World Series isn't won in July and August, but it can be lost. The Astros bringing Verlander back into the fold ensures they preserve their best chance at winning a title. Their stalwart is back atop the rotation and stabilizes a group that desperately needed it.

He still goes deep into games and will help keep innings down for the bullpen.

And while he has struggled in his career in the World Series, he finally got the weight off his shoulders in 2022, picking up the first World Series win of his career. Without the elephant in the room of being winless in the World Series any longer, could we see an even better JV in the Fall Classic?

JV's return will propel Houston to the finish line of the regular season, and he boosts their chances mightily when the playoffs begin.

#5 Yainer Diaz has broken out

The Astros are 38-24 in games started by Yainer Diaz, a 99-win pace. Assuming his manager plays him, Diaz gives the Astros a great chance of winning a World Series. The rookie is hitting .273 with an .811 OPS this year. When he catches, Diaz is hitting .331 with an 1.012 OPS.

Astros pitchers have performed markedly better with Diaz behind the plate than Maldonado, and while Maldy will always catch Framber and JV, Diaz' success behind the dish means Maldonado can be pinch hit for.

Though its been a limited sample size, Diaz also has played first base three times. The Astros would be wise to get Diaz some reps while Abreu rehabs to see if he could feasibly handle first base if Abreu continues to struggle at the plate.

Though he should be an everyday starter, if Dusty remains (indefensibly) reluctant to play Yainer every day, he at worst provides bench depth the Astros sorely lacked last year en route to a title.