The Houston Astros have completely collapsed this season. From sitting atop the AL West to now, with four games left in the season, being on the outside of the postseason field, it's been a disaster for the Astros in the second half of the year.
Despite trading for Carlos Correa at the trade deadline, things haven't improved for Houston. Their litany of injuries in the pitching staff and the lineup has diminished the team's potential too much, and now, they're in dire straits.
After their loss on Wednesday night to the Athletics, and the Seattle Mariners officially clinching the AL West, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com shared what Correa believes the team needs to do to make the postseason after their terrible collapse.
Carlos Correa reveals what Houston needs to do to make the playoffs
Houston has lost five games in a row and now sits at 84-74, one game behind the Detroit Tigers for the third and final wild card spot in the AL. With four games left, there's a clear goal for Correa and the Astros: winning out.
Carlos Correa was asked if the Astros need to win out.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) September 25, 2025
“Yeah, definitely. That’s what we gotta do with the situation we’re in.” pic.twitter.com/fWkiHdn34t
When asked what Houston needs to do to make the postseason, Correa shared a blunt response that all but confirmed the tall task ahead of them as September comes to a close. "Yeah, definitely," Correa said. "That's what we gotta do with the situation we're in."
It's a harsh reality for the Astros. From being the top team in the AL West, even with all of the injuries they were dealing with, to faltering at the very end when it matters most, it's a frustrating and brutal collapse.
Normally, Houston's second-half struggles would be the talk of the baseball world. But thanks to the Tigers blowing a 15.5 game lead over the Cleveland Guardians and a 10.5 game lead in September alone, Houston's struggles haven't been in the limelight.
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The Tigers' second-half collapse is also the reason why the Astros have a chance to make a run despite losing five straight. If Detroit continues to lose, then the Astros can overtake the Tigers for the wild-card spot.
While the Astros need to, as Correa says, win out to make such a reality possible, it's not out of the realm of possibility. However, the Astros need to wake up if they want to make such a run.
The offense can't get shut out like they have in two of its last five games. And when the offense puts up some runs, the pitching staff needs to back them up. Things aren't going great, but there's still some hope.
Correa's message is a simple one, as he knows the Astros need to win out to get a spot in the postseason. After their five-straight losses, including the sweep at the hands of the Mariners, Houston is on the edge of being eliminated. But, there's still a chance, and winning out can open the door for Houston to sneak back into the postseason.
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