The Houston Astros were eliminated from the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2016 by the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers, who had a remarkable turnaround after a slow start to the season, clinched the final Wild Card spot in the A.L. The Astros, who had won the AL West with 88 wins, saw their streak of appearing in the ALCS every year from 2017-2023 come to an end. This run of championship league series appearances was marred by a sign-stealing scandal that was revealed in 2019, where Houston coaches and players used cameras and audio cues to relay pitches to batters. Despite their success in recent years, the Astros’ postseason performance has been overshadowed by the scandal. The Tigers and the Kansas City Royals, the two lowest seeds in the A.L., have now advanced to the next round, continuing the trend of lower seeds advancing since the playoffs expanded to 12 teams. The Astros’ elimination marks a significant departure from their recent success and highlights the challenges they face moving forward.
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The Houston Astros’ ALCS streak comes to an end after four years
