WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Houston Astros clinched the American League West on the final day of the regular season Sunday, defeating the Athletics 9-0 and securing a playoff berth despite finishing 81-81.
Houston entered the day tied with the Texas Rangers atop the division and needed a Rangers loss to clinch the title. The Rangers lost to the Minnesota Twins, while the Astros completed their shutout victory over the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.
The division title marked Houston’s eighth AL West championship in the past 10 seasons and its 10th postseason appearance in the last 12 years.
The Astros also made unusual history with their .500 record. They became the first team to win a division and qualify for the postseason with a non-winning record during a full-length MLB season.
“It came down to the last game of the season,” shortstop Jeremy Peña said. “It was a tough year — a lot of ups, a lot of downs, a lot of injuries. But we made it through.”
Houston will host the Chicago White Sox in the American League wild-card round, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday at Daikin Park.
The Astros overcame a difficult start that left them 11 games under .500 on May 21. At that point, injuries had affected several key players while Houston’s pitching staff had the worst ERA in the majors.
The Astros became the seventh MLB team since at least 1900 to start 20-31 and still reach the postseason. The 2019 Washington Nationals previously accomplished the feat and went on to defeat Houston in the World Series.
Injuries continued to affect the roster throughout the season. Hunter Brown missed about 2½ months with a shoulder strain, Cristian Javier missed three months with the same injury, and closer Josh Hader missed the first two months while recovering from biceps tendinitis.
Peña played 10 games before missing five weeks with a hamstring injury. Third baseman Carlos Correa also suffered a left ankle tendon injury on May 5, and surgery ended his season.
Houston regained momentum during the summer. From May 22 through Aug. 2, only the Milwaukee Brewers won more games than the Astros.
Peter Lambert, whom Houston signed to a minor-league deal and called up from Triple-A in April, helped stabilize the rotation. Hader returned to the bullpen, while Steven Okert and rookie AJ Blubaugh emerged as important relievers.
Yordan Alvarez also carried much of the offense. The Astros’ only All-Star this season hit 40 home runs and won the AL batting title while remaining in contention for the Triple Crown.
The offense struggled again in August, however. Houston entered Sunday with only four teams scoring fewer runs since Aug. 1, while Jose Altuve posted his least productive 162-game season in more than a decade.
Christian Walker also experienced offensive fluctuations after May, while Houston’s outfield production remained below the league average.
The Astros also changed their front office during the playoff race. Owner Jim Crane dismissed general manager Dana Brown on Aug. 24 after a disappointing homestand against division opponents.
Houston responded with four wins in its next five series and continued its playoff push.
The Astros held a three-game division lead on Sept. 11 before the Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves swept them in consecutive series. Those results erased the lead and left Houston’s postseason hopes unsettled until the final weekend.
Houston then won its final road series against Seattle and West Sacramento to secure the division.
The Astros relied heavily on their pitching depth throughout the season. They used a franchise-record 19 starting pitchers, while only Brown and Lambert surpassed 100 innings.
Lambert started Sunday on two days’ rest after throwing 62 pitches Thursday. He worked two scoreless innings before Ethan Pecko followed with three scoreless innings. Miguel Ullola added another scoreless frame.
Houston’s offense then built an 8-0 lead before Texas’ loss became official.
Lucas Spence, playing in his 19th major-league game, delivered a two-run triple during Houston’s four-run third inning. Christian Walker added a solo home run in the sixth, while Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, Yainer Diaz and Jeremy Peña also drove in runs.
The Astros completed the 9-0 victory with 12 hits and held Oakland to five hits.
Manager Joe Espada credited the players for maintaining their focus through the season’s setbacks.
“It’s been a roller coaster season,” Espada said. “But just to be here and know the division is back in Houston, the crown is back in Houston, is a good thing.”
The Astros will now return home for their wild-card series against Chicago as they seek another postseason run after missing the playoffs last year.
“This is probably the coolest thing I’ve ever been a part of,” Pecko said. “And hope to keep it going.”