Astros' Justin Verlander (Image: Getty) Author: Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA (Wikipedia Commons)
The Houston Astros are one of MLB’s premier teams. After a steep decline following the departure of Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman, the team switched from the National League to the American League after the 2012 season. While AL teams rejoiced it at the time, figuring that their competition got a bit easier, they’d regret it soon enough.
By 2015, three years removed from the worst record in all of baseball, the Astros would be a real playoff threat. Dallas Keuchel, Carlos Correa, and Jose Altuve pushed the team for the next two years but they never advanced further than the divisional series.
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When Houston was ravaged by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the Astros became a rallying cry for the city. They clinched their first-ever AL West divisional title, despite playing multiple home games in other teams parks due to massive flooding throughout Houston. The Astros defeated the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS, the New York Yankees in the ALCS, and then beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games in the World Series, bringing a title back to Houston when it needed it the most. Altuve was named AL MVP that year.
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In 2018, the Astros would have similar regular season success but couldn’t capitalize on it in the playoffs. They swept the Cleveland Indians in the divisional series but fell in five games to the Red Sox shortly afterwards.
This year, the team features Altuve, Correa, ace Justin Verlander, and slugger George Springer. They should only continue to steamroll opponents in a relatively week AL West Division. Currently, they’re undefeated at home in four games.
On April 9 and 10, the Astros take on the Yankees at Minute Maid Park in Houston. While still early in the season, the game could be a preview of a playoff series. Expect both teams to compete with an added grit. Tickets for that series start at $20.
Following those two games, the Astros head out to Seattle to take on the Mariners. Tickets for the three-game series range from $22 to $218.
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Then, Houston will take on the Oakland Athletics. The two-game series will continue an essential road trip of interdivisional play. Tickets are only $9 for the Wednesday, April 17 matchup.
Here’s the rest of the Astros schedule for the month of April:
4/9 – VS New York Yankees
4/10 – VS New York Yankees
4/12 – @ Seattle Mariners
4/13 – @ Seattle Mariners
4/14 – @ Seattle Mariners
4/16 – @ Oakland A’s
4/17 – @ Oakland A’s
4/19 – @ Texas Rangers
4/20 – @ Texas Rangers
4/21 – @ Texas Rangers
4/22 – VS Minnesota Twins
4/23 – VS Minnesota Twins
4/24 – VS Minnesota Twins
4/25 – VS Cleveland Indians
4/26 – VS Cleveland Indians
4/27 – VS Cleveland Indians
4/28 – VS Cleveland Indians
4/29 – @ Minnesota Twins
4/30 – @ Minnesota Twins
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