There is a furniture store chain in Houston that will reimburse 100% of the costs of your furniture if the Astros win the World Series. No really. (there are a couple stipulations) but here is the proof if you’re interested.
The Houston Astros are the #1 team in the American League and they have been since the beginning of May. According to fangraphs they have the second highest odds of winning the World Series. Here are five reasons why they won’t win it all.
5 Reasons The Astros Won’t Win the World Series
5.Title drought
The Houston Astros began playing in 1962, and have yet to win a World Series. There are only seven other MLB teams that have yet to win one title. The Astros did appear in the 2005 World Series against the Chicago White Sox but were swept in 4 games. This doesn’t mean that the Astros can’t win, but it is a hurdle to overcome to have the championship mentality. The last team to win their first World Series was 15 years ago when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won the 2002 World Series, beating the Giants. The bottom line is the Astros lack the World Series experience and don’t quite have the winning formula because they just haven’t done it before.
4. Dallas Keuchel
Keuchel has been battling injuries this season, which hurts an already struggling pitching lineup for the Astros. He has only had nine quality starts this season and is 9-0 in those games. The rest of the pitchers on the Astros have filled in well enough but when you consider that at his best in 2015 Keuchel was second in wins and fifth in ERA in MLB, this is a major missing piece. Whether or not Keuchel can return healthy for the rest of the season dictates a lot of the potential success of the Astros.
3. All-Star Slump
Before the All-Star break the Astros were absolutely dominating, leading in every major batting statistic. Post All-Star Game they are third in runs, second in hits, and eighth in home runs. These stats don’t dictate what will happen post-season, but they are a sign that the team is a bit sluggish after the break. The hot start to the season was great, but I’m sure the Astros would love for a hot streak late going into the playoffs.
2. Carlos Correa
Carlos Correa, an all-star selection who has the 11th best batting average in the MLB, had a ligament torn in his thumb that will sideline him six to eight weeks. This comes at a critical time for the Astros as it is now post All-Star break and all sights are set on the playoffs. The Houston Astros will look to Jose Altuve, George Springer, and Josh Reddick to keep the team afloat until Correa can return to the lineup
1. Not Pitch Perfect
The Houston Astros lead the league in hits, runs, and home runs (yes they have more than the Aaron Judge led Yankees) but their pitching isn’t nearly as dominant. The best Astros pitcher (Mike Fiers) is 25th in ERA, 24th in strikeouts, 15th in home runs allowed, and 19th in overall pitching average. The massive offensive firepower is the reason the Astros have been the best in the league since May despite less than perfect pitching. If they can’t fix their pitching woes and their offense loses its potency due to injuries, expect the Astros to take a step back.
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