UPDATE: The Houston Astros suffered a crushing blow on September 30, 2023, as they fell to the Los Angeles Angels 6-1, marking their elimination from playoff contention. This loss comes just hours after the Cleveland Guardians secured the final American League playoff spot, officially ending the Astros’ streak of eight consecutive postseason appearances.
Star first baseman Christian Walker drove the Astros’ offense with two home runs, bringing his season total to 27 home runs. The night began as a celebration of past successes, but quickly turned into a somber farewell as the Astros now face a postseason-free October for the first time since 2016.
In a game rendered largely irrelevant by earlier results, Astros manager Joe Espada opted to rest key players early. Top hitters Jose Altuve, Isaac Paredes, and Carlos Correa were pulled after just two innings. The Astros jumped ahead with a two-run homer from Zach Cole in the second inning, following a single by Yainer Diaz. Walker’s first homer in the fourth extended the lead to 3-0, before Jesús Sánchez added a two-run shot to push it to 5-0.
The Angels managed to score a solitary run in the ninth inning, but Walker’s final homer of the night—his 27th—wrapped up the scoring at 6-1. Houston’s starting pitcher, AJ Blubaugh, delivered a stellar performance, allowing just one hit over four scoreless innings. In contrast, Angels rookie Caden Dana struggled, giving up five runs across seven innings.
The key moment came in the sixth inning when reliever J.P. France faced a critical situation with two runners on base. With one out, he struck out both Christian Moore and Oswald Peraza, maintaining the Astros’ lead and preserving their chances, albeit fruitlessly.
With only one game remaining in the season, the Astros will play their final match against the Angels on Sunday. This game will mark only the fourth time since 2015 that Houston will play without postseason hopes. The last such instance occurred at the end of the 2016 season.
Looking ahead, Astros’ right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (2-5, 6.71 ERA) is set to start against Angels left-hander Sam Aldegheri (0-1, 8.00) in a game that many fans will watch with mixed emotions.
As the Astros grapple with their sudden exit from the playoff race, the focus will shift to rebuilding for the next season. The emotional weight of this loss will linger for players and fans alike as they reflect on what was once a remarkable era of success.