With the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians clinching playoff berths on Saturday, the Houston Astros were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2016.
The Astros had an eight-year postseason streak that has come to an end because of a post-All-Star break downfall.
Houston entered the All-Star break leading the American League West, and has lost six of its last eight games to miss the playoffs. On the flip side, the Tigers had an even more historic downfall, but held on to clinch a playoff berth.
This Offseason Could be a Battle For A.J. Hinch
Tigers' manager AJ Hinch is in line for an extension this offseason, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. However, if the Astros decide to move on from manager Joe Espada, Houston could try to go after Hinch.
Hinch spent five years in Houston from 2015-2019. The manager took over a team that had last 92 games the year before and in three years turned the Astros into an 100-win team and World Series champions.
Hinch led Houston to three-straight 100-win seasons and two World Series appearances before he was let go to due the sign stealing scandal.
The Tigers hired Hinch in 2021, and he took over a team that was at the bottom of their division for the last two years. Five years later, Hinch has the Tigers in their second straight postseason.
Say what you want about his involvement in the Astros sign stealing scandal, but the veteran manager knows how to build a winning baseball team.
For the first time since the 2016, the Houston Astros will not be playing postseason baseball.
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) September 28, 2025
They have been eliminated following Cleveland’s walk-off win pic.twitter.com/xb1nyTNf7G
With the Astros' collapse in 2025, there's speculation Houston could decide to move on from Espada, and if the Astros' manager spot becomes available, Nightengale reported the Astros could reach out to Hinch.
It's also worth noting that Hinch still owns two homes in Houston.
It's crazy how a couple of weeks can swing things around in professional sports. Before the Astros' series against the Seattle Mariners, Espada was being talked about as AL Manager of the Year, and now he could be losing his job.
While Hinch has turned Detroit baseball around, a reunion with the Astros could make the American League quite interesting in 2026.