The Houston Astros were eliminated from the American League Championship Series after losing to the Detroit Tigers in the Wild Card Round. The Tigers’ turnaround season saw them clinch the final Wild Card spot in the A.L. The Astros, who only won 88 games during the regular season, saw their streak of ALCS appearances end after making it every year from 2017-23 and winning the World Series twice. The Astros’ success during this time was overshadowed by their involvement in a sign-stealing scandal, where players and coaches used cameras to steal signs and relay information to batters. This scandal tainted their 2017 World Series win and led to repercussions for the team. The loss to the Tigers marks the first time since 2016 that the Astros will not be in the ALCS, highlighting the changes in their postseason success. The win by the Tigers and the Kansas City Royals, who also advanced to the next round as a lower seed, shows a trend of underdog teams succeeding in the expanded playoff format.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
