ANAHEIM – The hearts of Houston Astros fans were crushed when their favorite team officially lost its chance to make the postseason for the first time since 2016. The “knockout” blow didn’t come from a defeat on the field – it came from a victory on the field that evaporated all hope in the middle of the night.
The Astros still won 6-1 against the Angels in their last game, but when the Cleveland Guardians swept the Texas Rangers, the Wild Card window immediately closed – bringing a bitter end to a journey that many would continue to connect the empire.
Just a few months ago, Houston was still sweeping the Dodgers to stay in the lead – the public thought this season would be the next breakthrough in their system of dominance.
But then things started to fall apart. Over the next 70 games, they played a 30-40 win-loss record and climbed steadily to the bottom of the standings.
The Astros’ defense has been fragile: their ERA is among the lowest in the league, while their hitting ranks are 27th in runs scored and 28th in OPS — unacceptable numbers for a team with big ambitions.
When the news of their “playoff elimination” spread, there was no shouting or event in the Astros dugout — instead, there was silence. Jose Altuve, the icon of the English baseball team, was sad: “We fought until the last day. But the reality is — not today. This feeling is not good at all.”
Christian Walker, who contributed a lot to the victory over the Angels, also could not hide his frustration: “We put our heart, sweat, blood… But when it comes to performing in the postseason, we still have a chance.”
“I’m proud of the way we came into this game, the way the guys dealt with injuries, dealt with everything this season, but we came back with a chip on our shoulder to come back stronger,” said manager Joe Espada, facing a tired squad.
This season’s work of sorts ends an eight-year streak of consecutive postseason appearances — one of the longest in MLB history.
Many key players have been hurt by injuries: Yordan Alvarez missed more than 100 games with his hand, Jeremy Peña lost 27 games with a broken rib, and Paredes missed 55 games with a hamstring injury.
There’s also another type of pitcher: a number of injuries have forced a deep bench, while pitchers have struggled to maintain consistent form.
But in this devastation, there is a silver lining: the team is in need of a “reset” season — a change of personnel, a return to form, a rebirth of the roster. With many key players still under contract, the Astros can lay the foundation for a comeback.
The 2025 season is a reasonable time for the Astros to assert their empire’s continuity — so it becomes a verdict on resilience. Not for lack of substance — but for the complex brand within, from the overwhelming pressure that leads to injuries, lack of character depth, and tactical errors.
Now, the question is no longer “Will Houston make it to the postseason?” but “How will the Astros bounce back?” Fans are used to the fall-winter filter — but this year, they will have to wait, suffer disappointment, and expect a revival.
Under the new spotlight of next season, can the Astros rebuild their confidence, soak up the wins, and continue the glorious story? Only time will tell — But one thing is certain: they never play to stay, they play to come back.
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