Houston Astros Face Division Winner in Early Playoff Projections
The Houston Astros are extremely likely to make the playoffs for the seventh season in a row. The last time they weren't playing in the postseason was in 2016 when they finished with an 84-78 record.
Since that season, they have won the AL West five out of six times, utterly dominating the division on their way to two World Series championships.
The Astros could still win the division this year, but they are currently in a three team race that sees them third in the standings, one game back of the Seattle Mariners.
So, if the 2023 postseason were to start right now, who would Houston play?
They would face off against the AL Central winning Minnesota Twins in the Wild Card round. The best-of-three series would take place in the Twins' home stadium because they would be seeded higher as a division winner, despite the Astros likely finishing with a better record.
All things considered, this would be a great matchup for Houston. They'd avoid the Tampa Bay Rays and face a beatable division winner who has postseason demons. The Twins have lost 18 straight playoff games and eight straight series, even when they've had home field advantage.
The Astros have a better top end rotation and much better lineup that can attack what Minnesota throws at them.
The one advantage that the Twins could have in this series is their strength at home. Entering Tuesday, they have a record of 40-27. Houston counters that strength with a strength of their own, winning 40 out of 67 games on the road so far this season.
It would be extremely beneficial for the Astros to be the division winners once again by the time the season ends. They would get an automatic bye into the ALDS round and avoid playing extra games. If they aren't able to catch the Mariners, playing Minnesota would be the best case scenario.
