The Los Angeles Dodgers are the talk of MLB, and for good reason.
They are 98-44 and owners of the best record and run differential in the sport.
While people are currently focusing on the NL East, AL East, and AL Central postseason races, some folks are sleeping on the Houston Astros.
That would be a major mistake.
With a 94-50 record so far (before Friday’s games), the Astros have been the best team in the American League and have enough firepower and depth to challenge for the World Series title in 2022.
Their excellent performance this year made sure they reached .500 as a franchise this year.
“The Astros have an all-time record of 4819-4814. This is the most games over .500 in franchise history that the team has ever been,” Astros insider Michael Schwab tweeted.
The Astros have an all-time record of 4819-4814.
This is the most games over .500 in franchise history that the team has ever been.
— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) September 16, 2022
A Trip Through History
For historical reference: the Astros were established as the Houston Colt .45s and entered the National League as an expansion team in 1962, together with the New York Mets.
As it happens with most expansion teams, the beginnings weren’t friendly with the Astros when it comes to overall record and performance.
The organization has four NL West titles, four AL West titles, four pennants (three in the American League and one in the National League), and one World Series championship, and they all came after 1997.
They rebuilt in the early-2010s and have been a powerhouse ever since the mid-2010s, augmenting their win tally in a hurry.
Nowadays, the Astros still look like a rock-solid squad capable of winning another World Series, and the franchise’s historical record now reflects a team that has had more wins than losses.
That’s a reality since this season, and it speaks about how good the team has been since the mid-2010s.
