WEST SACRAMENTO -- After missing the playoffs by one game last season, the Astros are returning to the postseason for the ninth time in the past 10 seasons after beating the Athletics on Sunday afternoon, 9-0, to clinch the American League West title.
The Astros, who won the division despite going 81-81, captured their eighth AL West title in the past 10 seasons and will play host to the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series against the White Sox beginning Tuesday at Daikin Park. Only the Dodgers (122) have played in more postseason games than Houston (105) since 2015.
What could the postseason roster look like?
C: Yainer Diaz, Christian Vázquez
1B: Christian Walker
2B: Jose Altuve
3B: Isaac Paredes
SS: Jeremy Peña
UT: Nick Allen
DH: Yordan Alvarez
OF: Cam Smith, Lucas Spence, LaMonte Wade Jr., Nelson Velázquez, Taylor Trammell
SP: Hunter Brown, Hayden Wesneski, Peter Lambert, Ethan Pecko
RP: Bennett Sousa (L), Bryan King (L), Miguel Ullola, A.J. Blubaugh, Bryan Abreu, Josh Hader (L), Tatsuya Imai, Josh Hendrickson (L), Logan VanWey
What is the Wild Card Series schedule?
Game 1: Tuesday, 4 p.m. CT
Game 2: Wednesday, 4 p.m. CT
Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday, TBD
If the Astros advance to the AL Division Series, that would begin Saturday, Oct. 3, in Cleveland.
How have the Astros fared against the White Sox this season?
The Astros went 5-2 against the White Sox, winning two of three games in Chicago from July 24-26 and three of four games in Houston from Aug. 31-Sept. 3.
Which starting pitchers have done well against the White Sox?
Brown was 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against Chicago this season. Wesneski threw seven scoreless innings against the White Sox on Sept. 2, and Lambert allowed two runs and three hits in 4 2/3 innings on Aug. 31. Houston starters have a 3.09 ERA in 35 innings against Chicago this season.
What are the Astros’ rotation plans?
The Astros may need to have a bullpen game in Game 1 considering neither Brown, Wesneski nor Lambert will be rested by Tuesday. The same goes for Pecko, the rookie who pitched in relief Sunday. Beyond that, Brown is lined up to pitch Game 2 on Wednesday on four days of rest, and Wesneski would be on schedule to start a possible Game 3 on Thursday, also on four days of rest.
Are there any lingering health issues?
Paredes fouled a ball off his knee Saturday in West Sacramento and was in the lineup for Sunday’s season finale, but the Astros were so concerned about the knee that they called up infielder Raynel Delgado to give them some coverage at third base.
There’s a chance left-handed reliever Steven Okert could return for the Wild Card Series. He hasn’t pitched since Aug. 31 because of a hamstring strain, but he was with the club to end the season in West Sacramento and was throwing in the bullpen. Houston lost a pair of center fielders in the final week of the regular season with Daulton Varsho (wrist) and Brice Matthews (knee) landing on the IL, so neither will be available for the ALWCS.
Have the Astros and White Sox met in the postseason before?
Yes, twice. The White Sox swept the Astros in the 2005 World Series. The Astros beat the White Sox in four games in the 2021 ALDS.