Houston Astros: Five X-Factors to help the team #TakeItBack

The Houston Astros have aspirations to #TakeItBack. The “it”, of course, being the World Series Championship. These 5 guys will be X-Factors in doing so.

One year ago the Houston Astros and fans alike were still reveling and basking in the glow of winning the World Series for the first time in franchise history. It was a wonderful feeling to have a championship brought back to the city for the first time in over two decades.

The best part about it all was the team seemed to be primed to potentially become the first team to be repeat champs in nearly three decades. Additionally, no key players were being lost and Justin Verlander was slated to have his first full season in Houston. Gerrit Cole was also added to bolster the starting rotation. Things were looking bright indeed.

All the team did in the regular season was continue to add vital pieces to the team to ensure injuries and midseason struggles were overcome. This resulted in the best regular season in franchise history culminating in 103 wins to only 59 losses which was the second best record in all of baseball last year.

Unfortunately, the Houston Astros were unable to maintain this throughout the entirety of the playoffs. The Red Sox took care of the Astros in five games in the ALCS and went on to beat the Dodgers to become 2018’s World Series Champions.

So, the team entered the offseason slightly disappointed and with the need to slightly retool. More players were added to cover up potential deficiencies and to help the team accomplish this season’s motto which is #TakeItBack. These five players I’m about to highlight will play pivotal roles as X-Factors to ensure that happens.