Houston Astros: 103 Wins and what could be in store next

The Houston Astros, your 2018 AL West Champions, set a franchise record Saturday night, winning both games of a doubleheader.  What else could be in store?

Houston Astros fans — Hall of Fame Chicago Cubs first baseman and shortstop Ernie Banks famously said “let’s play two” and that’s exactly what the Houston Astros did Saturday night in Baltimore.

The Houston Astros had already wrapped up their division by winning the AL West in Toronto last weekend, but there was still one more goal that this team wanted to accomplish before the postseason.

In Game 1 of the double header, Justin Verlander was wheeling and dealing throughout his last start for the regular season. Verlander struck out 10 batters through six innings. This is the 4th time he has reached double digit strikeouts this year.  He finished the regular season going 16-9, with a 2.52 ERA and ended up with 290 strikeouts on the season.

Offensively, George Springer and Carlos Correa hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth to give the Astros a 3-0 lead. The Astros did give up a three home run later in the 7th, thanks to D.J. Stewart.

Carlos Correa answered right back with an RBI double, scoring Springer in the 9th to give the Astros a 4-3 lead. Hector Rondon recorded the save to give the Astros their 102 second victory of the year, tying the 1998 Houston Astros who ended up winning 102 games as well.

In Game 2, the Astros kept the momentum going with some long bombs to give the Astros a 5-2 win. Dallas Kuechel threw three innings and gave up one run.

The story of game two was definitely the use of the long ball.  Rookie Myles Straw hit his first-ever major league home run in the first inning.

AT&T Sportsnet reporter Julia Morales tweeted out the moment which included a post home run stare from Myles:

Brian McCann hit a “McCannonball” in the 6th and Jake Marisnick hit a two-run shot in the 8th, scoring Tony Kemp.

What followed after the Marisnick home run was probably the best home run celebration I’ve ever seen in a dugout, once again caught by AT&T Sportsnet’s Morales:

https://twitter.com/JuliaMorales/status/1046219657198358528

But it wasn’t the home run celebrations that made this game special, it was the fact that this team could go down as one of the best teams ever in Astros history. No other team in the franchise’s 56 years of existence has won more games than the 2018 Houston Astros.

While some may say the Astros had a “World Series Hangover” during the year, their record says otherwise.

Now comes the real test for this team, facing the Cleveland Indians in the AL Division Series, which starts Friday on TBS with the schedule yet to be determined.

Will the Astros be able to put the celebrations behind and focus on defending their World Series title?

I think they will because this team is not only talented enough to win another World Series but they are hungry for another one as well.

Go Astros, Never Settle!