The Astros won on the final game of the season to win the AL West, sending the Rangers into the Wild Card round in the postseason. The Rangers embraced the moment and their bats got red hot throughout this postseason.
On Monday night in ALCS Game 7, their bats were just too much for Houston as the Rangers racked up 15 hits, with four homeruns including two from Adolis Garcia, who went 4-for-5 in this elimination game. Astros starter Cristian Javier didn't even last an inning, giving up four runs, three of them earned, and the Astros turned to their bullpen. Hunter Brown gave up a run, JP France gave up four runs, while Bryan Abreu gave up two runs, Urquidy gave up a run, and the Rangers bats were just too much for Houston.
The Astros can look back and be proud of the accomplishment of reaching seven straight American League Championship Series, but it will sting knowing they were just one win away from reaching a third straight World Series.
While Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve provided some big moments for Houston throughout this postseason, guys like Kyle Tucker really struggled batting just .143 with nine strikeouts. Catcher Martin Maldonado, though valuable behind the plate, batted just .154 with ten strikeouts. Bregman had his moments, but batted just .189, while last season's ALCS MVP Jeremy Pena batting just .194 this postseason.
There have now been 2 postseason series all-time where the road team won all 7 games. Both involved the Astros and they lost both, this one vs the Rangers, and the 2019 World Series vs the Nationals.
Houston now heads into the offseason with a list of just five free agents. Hector Neris has a player option, and one would think the Astros would love to have him back. But 36 year old Michael Brantley and 37 year old Martin Maldonado may have played their final games in a Houston uniform. Relievers Ryne Stanek and Phil Maton will also become free agents, and are both candidates to possibly return next season. Everyone else on the Astros roster will be back next season. Of course, some decisions will need to be made on potential long-term contracts for Framber Valdez and Kyle Tucker, and that will be for GM Dana Brown to assess over the offseason.
The Astros will also get back pitchers Lance McCullers Jr, and at some point Luis Garcia, to add to a pitching staff that brings back Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Hunter Brown, JP France, Jose Urquidy and more. There's good reason to think this Astros window stays open a little longer.