Raise your hand up if you thought the Astros would be only a half-game behind the AL West division leader after that disastrous April?
Now put it down, liar.
Yes, the 55-55 Astros are contending for a division title. Somehow, they’re in the thick of the division race, with a -41 run differential. By Pythagorean W-L%, Houston is outperforming their expected win-loss record by four games. This isn’t a team you’d naturally assume could lead the division as early as Friday night.
You can primarily thank the Rangers and Mariners for their mediocrity because this kind of situation wouldn’t happen in the other divisions. Well, except for perhaps the AL Central, but you get the point. In a better division, under most circumstances, Houston isn’t really in the conversation for the division title at this point. Wild Card, possibly. But this year, they are competing for a division title, so let’s enjoy it for as long as we can. If the 2006 Cardinals could win it all, why not the 2026 Astros?
Rangers @ Astros Game Information and Gamethread Details
This weekend’s three-game series against the Rangers may not ultimately determine the AL West winner, but it’ll help establish who has the inside path in early August. Winning eight of nine following that dreadful three-game sweep at the hands of the Orioles has kept the Astros within striking distance of their in-state rival. They now have an opportunity to usurp control in the division and enter August with a winning record for the first time since April.
How to do that? Don’t waste any Hunter Brown starts.
While Brown was rusty following his IL stint, we finally saw his AL Cy Young finalist form in his last start against the White Sox on July 25, striking out seven across seven scoreless innings. Another quality start would set up the Astros nicely for this weekend series, especially with Saturday’s pitcher Ronel Blanco only one start into his season following his return from Tommy John surgery. Plus, the team still hasn’t announced Sunday’s starter, although Peter Lambert is the likely choice to me.
Will provide lineup details when released
We hope you will join us and the rest of the Launch Angle community for the game! The turnout has been amazing on the TLA Discord Server for the game threads.
Join us again for today’s game. Just join the Discord server using this link: https://launch-angle.com/discord.
For more detailed instructions, please see the Guide to the Launch Angle.
If you’ve participated in game threads on other Astros sites in the past, you will probably see a lot of familiar names. Chat, lurk, do whatever! (But please say “hi”, so we know you’re not a bot.)
Feature photo from Astros on X
