Astros eliminated from playoff chase

ANAHEIM — One of the most successful runs in baseball history ended Saturday afternoon when the final score from Cleveland was displayed on the scoreboard at Angel Stadium: Guardians 3, Rangers 2. The Astros†eight-year streak of postseason appearances ended during their 161st game of the 2025 season, with the Guardians locking up the final postseason spot in the American League.

The Astros knew their chances of playing into October were slim after they blew a three-run lead to the Angels in Fridayâ€s series opener, but the reality of elimination swept swiftly through the first-base dugout in the second inning of Saturdayâ€s 6-1 win. For the first time since 2016, the Astros wonâ€t participate in the playoffs.

“I think we are all disappointed and sad about it,†said second baseman Jose Altuve, whoâ€s been a part of the entire run. “We tried to fight to the last day. We had some chances before todayâ€s game and it didnâ€t happen. Not a good feeling.â€

It was a remarkable run of perseverance and excellence, with no shortage of thrilling moments and champagne celebrations. It was a stretch of dominance Astros fans might not see again in their lifetimes, spanning three managers and general managers.

Astros manager Joe Espada addressed the team after the game in a quiet clubhouse and said he was proud of their effort and excited for the future.

“Thatâ€s the meeting, thatâ€s the conversation you donâ€t want to have with your team,†he said. “I told this team Iâ€m really proud of them because we have gone through a lot. We got guys that have no business being on the field right now, banged up injury-wise. But theyâ€re playing through pain and through injuries just because they want it for our city, they want it for their teammates. Thatâ€s the heart of a champion right there.â€

Houstonâ€s eight consecutive playoff appearances (2017-24) comprised the fourth-longest run in Major League history. The Astros played 99 postseason games in that span, winning two World Series championships, four American League pennants, made seven consecutive trips to the ALCS (2017-23) and captured seven AL West division titles in eight seasons.

Carlos Correa, who helped launch Houstonâ€s glory years as a rookie in 2015 and returned this season in a July trade, said he wanted to apologize to the fans in Houston for not having postseason baseball.

“It’s not what they’re accustomed to,†he said. “They’re used to watching playoff baseball and they look forward to that every single year. It’s a beautiful time of the year in Houston. We were not able to accomplish that this year, but we promise our fans in Houston this offseason is going to be one of a lot of hard work. We’re all going to get better. Next year will be one to remember.”

After being swept in the Wild Card round by the Tigers last year, the Astros traded star outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Cubs and lost star third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency, but still were the favorites to win the West. The club began dealing with injuries early in the season and they didnâ€t step, depleting the teamâ€s depth.

The Astros had 28 players land on the IL this year, including eight players with multiple stints. At one point they had 18 players on the injured list, including three-fifths of their starting rotation to begin the season. Along the way, they lost Yordan Alvarez 100 games with a broken bone in his hand and for the final 11 games with a sprained ankle.

“If weâ€re healthy and I know that you look at the rosters, thereâ€s places we could address and make our roster better,†Espada said. “Weâ€ll work through that. But the heart and the foundation and what makes this team really good is still in the clubhouse, and as long as we have that culture that itâ€s about us, not one player, weâ€re going to find ourselves in a really good spot for many years to come.â€

Three of Houstonâ€s four 2025 All-Stars — shortstop Jeremy Peña, third baseman Isaac Paredes and closer Josh Hader — missed significant time with injuries. Peña was out 27 games in July with a rib fracture and missed his sixth game in a row Saturday with an oblique strain. Paredes missed 54 games with a hamstring strain and Hader missed the final 46 games with a shoulder capsule strain.

“Good teams find a way anyway,†said first baseman Christian Walker, who clubbed two homers Saturday. “We almost did. We were close, but not good enough.â€

The injuries caught up with the Astros in the second half of the season. After sweeping the Dodgers in Los Angeles in early July to improve to 55-35 and open up a seven-game lead in the AL West, the Astros went 30-40 in their next 70 games, including a three-game sweep to the Mariners last weekend that lost the division. They led the AL West for 109 games, but couldnâ€t finish it off.

“You win 86 games and without a lot of our main guys, but at the same time we won 86 games because some of our young players carried us to this point,†Espada said. “That tells you the character and the talent that we have in the organization. But this really sucks, man. This is not what you go to Spring Training for. Expectations are high, but this is where weâ€re at. Weâ€ll overcome that and get back to work.â€

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