Houston Astros' grip on AL West lead weakens after humbling sweep by Rays. Can they rebound?
Houston's offense stalled, its lead shrank and its playoff path grew more precarious after Tampa Bay exposed the gap between the AL division leaders in a weekend sweep.
Houston Astros saw their one-game lead in the AL West cut to just one after being swept by the Rays over the weekend. The Tampa Bay Rays clinched their playoff spot early in the series and dominated the Astros, who finished the three-game series with a 2-4 record. The Astros were outscored 15-4 and struggled to generate offense, especially without Yordan Alvarez, who was absent for the first two games due to an ankle injury.
Alvarez's return to the lineup did not help the Astros' cause as they remained outhit 15-4 and went hitless for five innings against the Rays. The Rays capitalized on a dropped pop-up by shortstop Jeremy Peña that led to a three-run home run, solidifying their control over the division with 12 games remaining in the season. Despite the loss, Astros manager Joe Espada noted that the team still controls its own destiny and needs to push forward and win their upcoming series against Texas.
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