The Houston Astros have been a force to be reckoned with in the AL West for the last four seasons. No other team has finished atop the division since the Athletics won it back in 2020.
The Astros started slow this season, but were able to get their feet underneath them. Even with key figures like Yordan Alvarez on the IL, they have been able to win games and currently hold a three-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the division.
As Alvarez recently made his return, things are looking up for the Astros. They have a strong possibility to close out the regular season strong, and are MLB insider Jesse Rogers' pick to win the AL West.
"The Mariners have a slightly easier schedule the rest of the way but their road woes are for real - and will likely prevent them from going on an extended run. Picking against the Astros would be the headline-scratching move. They're the division champs once again."
Astros looking to avenge their early exit from last year's postseason
While the Astros made the postseason last year, they were not in it for very long. Their season ended during the Wild Card round, as they were swept by the Detroit Tigers.
For a team that has become one of MLB's most consistent clubs, this was not the result they were hoping for. Houston will look to finish the regular season as the AL West's best team and hopefully put itself in a better position for success during this year's postseason.