MLB4 hours ago2 minute read

Houston Astros Swept Out of Playoffs, Facing Big Winter Decisions

The Houston Astros face big front office decisions and a roster rebuild after being swept by the Chicago White Sox in the wild card round.

The EagleEyeOdds deskWritten from the match data, checked against our model before it goes out

A Quick End to the Season

October had not even started when the Houston Astros were sent packing. A wild card sweep by the Chicago White Sox knocked them out of the playoffs on the last day of September. It was a very quick exit for a team that had worked hard to get there.

The Astros recovered from a deep hole of 20 wins and 31 losses in late May to win their division. However, they had to win their final two games of the year just to finish the regular season at .500. They were also outscored by 32 runs overall during the season. Without a weak American League West division, they would have missed the postseason entirely for a second straight year.

Finding a New Leader

Houston played the final stretch of the season without a general manager. Dana Brown was let go in late August, which happened after the draft and the trade deadline. A committee managed the front office through the end of the year and kept things working. Now, the franchise needs a permanent lead executive to build their own processes.

Owner Jim Crane and former player Jeff Bagwell hold a lot of influence in the organization. Bagwell has been known as a vocal analytics skeptic. The team might promote from within, looking at assistant general managers like Charles Cook, Gavin Dickey, or Connor Huff. The first sign of how this will go will be whether the team waits for a new baseball chief before deciding to bring back manager Joe Espada for 2027.

Roster Decisions Ahead

The roster faces some immediate questions during the cold winter. Pitcher Bryan Abreu is a key free agent. Third baseman Isaac Paredes has a club option. That option becomes a mutual option if Paredes finishes in the top 10 of the American League MVP voting.

The team started from a point of mediocrity this year, and there are not many players on the roster showing upward trajectory. The next general manager will have to balance short term goals with long term planning to keep the franchise from falling apart quickly.

What it means for the next game

Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros (MLB, Thu, 01 Oct): Houston Astros win 43%, Chicago White Sox win 57%; projected score Houston Astros 4, Chicago White Sox 5. Our safest pick: Under 11.5 runs.