Could the Houston Astros’ resurgence make them the favorite for the division title?

With a thrilling walk-off win over the Boston Red Sox on Monday night, the Houston Astros made a statement in the American League West, taking a four-game lead that seems to consolidate their resurgence in the season. What initially seemed like a disastrous start to the season is now in the past, making it clear that the franchise’s best days are not a thing of the past.

Under the direction of manager Joe Espada, the Texas team has won nine of its last ten games, establishing itself as the most dominant team not only in the West but also in the entire American League.

Two weeks ago, the Astros were a game behind the Mariners and had been hovering around .500 since the All-Star break. Since then, they’ve been on a roll, winning 10 of their last 11 games, including an eight-game winning streak.

The division is in your hands

According to projections from FanGraphs, the Astros have the best odds of winning the divisional pennant, a feat they have achieved in six of the past seven years, except the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. Houston is projected to finish with an 89-73 record, giving them a comfortable seven-game lead over the Seattle Mariners, their closest competitors in the divisional race.

For much of the season, the race for the top spot in the West has been a close contest between Houston, Seattle, and the Texas Rangers. However, in August, the Astros stepped up, compiling an impressive 11-4 record. Meanwhile, the Mariners have fallen behind with a 7-8 mark, and the Rangers have fallen out of contention with a disappointing 5-11.

The division crown appears to be within reach for the Astros. Still, one major obstacle remains a crucial series against the Mariners at the end of September, the penultimate one on the schedule, which could define the fate of both teams.

The most impressive thing about this resurgence is that Houston has managed to maintain its form despite injuries to key players like Justin Verlander and Kyle Tucker. Verlander, who has been out since early June, missed much of the team’s resurgence. Though he’s no longer the same pitcher who won the Cy Young Award two seasons ago, his return could be the team’s final push to secure a title. Meanwhile, Tucker, who was playing at an MVP level before suffering a shin bruise, has also been a noticeable absence. Adding his bat to a lineup already in the top 10 of the league will only make things better for Houston.

Despite these losses, the Astros have compiled a 39-21 record since Verlander and Tucker went on the injured list simultaneously, proof of the team’s depth and resilience. Once both players return, Houston could be even more dangerous.

Hader is back to his old self

Another key factor in the Astros’ recent success has been the resurgence of Josh Hader. After signing a record-setting contract in the offseason, Hader got off to an unusually rocky start in Houston, posting a 6.39 ERA in his first month with the team. However, he’s managed to turn things around impressively. Since July 9, Hader has blown just one save and has dropped his ERA to 1.65 over his past 16 games. Opposing hitters are hitting a paltry .059 against him in that span. Having an elite closer is crucial in the playoffs, and now Hader appears to be in the right shape to be that difference-maker.

Houston’s offense is also hot at the right time. Incredibly, the player who has been the weakest is Jose Altuve, who still has a .279/.340/. He had a 442 slash line over his last 10 games.

That’s because his teammates, such as Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman, are in their prime. Alvarez has hit five home runs in his last 10 games, with a staggering .389/.511/.861 slash line, while Bregman has surprised with five homers and a .356 average over the same span.

Houston’s stars are shining at the right time, and if they keep this up, the season’s final stretch could bring big rewards.