The Houston Astros finished the 2022 regular season with a 106-56 record.
We are not even in September, and they already surpassed last year’s loss total as their record is 72-57.
Their last defeat, which came on Thursday, was crushing: 17-1 against the Boston Red Sox.
It’s the kind of demoralizing loss that can expose a team’s weaknesses.
Today's 17-1 defeat to Boston is tied for the largest loss in Astros history. ?#MLB | #Astros pic.twitter.com/uGS95yRb2A
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) August 24, 2023
After the third inning, the Astros were already down 11-0.
Starting pitcher J.P. France conceded 10 earned runs on 11 hits and two walks in just 2.1 frames, taking his ERA from 2.75 to 3.51, almost a full run.
It was a day to forget for the Astros, who have lost two straight and six of the last 10.
Their current skid, coupled with the Seattle Mariners’ 8-2 run in their last 10 contests, have resulted in the latter tying the Astros in the standings.
The Texas Rangers are 72-55 in first place despite dropping seven straight.
The M’s are 71-56 and the Astros are 72-57, tied in second but with the former boasting a slightly better winning percentage (.559 to .558).
The three teams will be vying for the division crown, and all three have concrete chances of running away with it.
The Astros are the reigning World Series champs, but have found much more competition in the American League this time around.
Both the M’s and Rangers have caught up and now pose legitimate threats to their reign.
In fact, if the Astros don’t start stringing together wins soon, they actually risk being left out of the postseason altogether.
The Toronto Blue Jays are 1.5 games behind in the Wild Card race, and the Red Sox are 3.5 games back.
Things have gotten really interesting in the American League.
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