Tuesday night marked yet another milestone for the Houston Astros, who secured their fourth consecutive AL West title and their seventh in the last eight years. The achievement locks them into the AL's No. 3 seed, ensuring their participation in the upcoming Wild Card Series.
Securing the AL's No. 3 Seed
As the regular season concludes, the Astros find themselves behind both the AL Central-winning Cleveland Guardians and the victor of the AL East in terms of record. Despite this, their strong performances have cemented their place in the postseason, where they aim to continue their robust display of talent.
A Gesture to Bregman
In what was a poignant moment during Wednesday afternoon's game, third baseman Alex Bregman was taken out in the fourth inning. This move gave the home crowd an opportunity to shower him with a well-deserved ovation, potentially marking his last regular-season game in Houston's colors.
Bregman, selected by the Astros as the No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft, has been a cornerstone of the franchise since his MLB debut in July 2016. He played critical roles in Houston’s World Series-winning squads in 2017 and 2022, earning two All-Star selections along the way. In 2019, Bregman’s standout season saw him finish second to Mike Trout in the AL MVP voting, driven by a career-high 41 home runs.
Bregman's 2023 Performance
As of Thursday, Bregman was hitting .257/.314/.449 with 26 home runs for the season, his best power numbers since the stellar 2019 campaign. This season’s performance underscores his continued importance to the team’s lineup.
Future with the Astros?
The Astros' General Manager Dana Brown has made it publicly known that the team intends to "engage and talk about" a contract extension with Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras. However, the franchise has a recent history of allowing their homegrown stars to leave in free agency, including Carlos Correa, Dallas Keuchel, and George Springer. Whether or not Bregman will follow this pattern remains to be seen.
Game Adjustments
When Bregman left Wednesday’s game, utility player Grae Kessinger stepped in, taking over at second base. This change shifted Shay Whitcomb from second to third base. Whitcomb’s defensive performance, however, was less than ideal, as he committed three errors and had another misplay that was logged as a fielder's choice.
Despite the outcome of this specific game holding little bearing on the standings, it provided an opportunity to test the flexibility and depth of the roster, valuable as the team gears up for the crucial Wild Card Series next week.
Looking Ahead to the Playoffs
The Astros have consistently shown resilience and excellence—traits synonymous with champions. As they prepare for another playoff run, fans will be keenly observing how the team manages its roster and strategies. The upcoming weeks will be pivotal, not only for the season's success but also for the organization’s trajectory in future years.
In conclusion, the Houston Astros have once again showcased their dominant stature within the MLB, and with the postseason on the horizon, the team is poised for yet another deep playoff journey. Much is at stake, and the decisions made now will reverberate through the franchise's history.