In 2015, the Astros almost won the World Series.
If it hadn't been for some quick work from the Royals, they would have gone on to clobber Toronto and maybe be even worse to the Mets than Kansas City was. But they managed to go from a last-place joke that couldn't even succeed in either league to one of the strongest, most fun teams in baseball.
2017 is Round Two of that. The momentum is there, the cast of characters, while slightly altered, is still as potent as ever, and the fans keep soaking it in. It helps that there are some legitimately talented people on this team, like Carlos Correa, Carlos Beltran and Alex Bregman, but...people like George Springer, Evan Gattis, Dallas Keuchel and Ken Giles, these fun, quirky players that do good work, are THRIVING in Houston. Especially this year, where they have a more well-rounded roster than they did last year, and have more of an open division to play around in.
Right now they're creeping up on the shockingly great Angels, and are fending off the Rangers because...yeah, usually they don't get amazing until July. But, unless something horrible happens, the Astros will have control of the division. They decide who lives and dies, and who advances. They have the talent, the fan base, and the insane drive. I think this season they can get further than they got in 2015. Only if they keep this up, though.
Coming Tonight: A pitcher for the last team you'd expect to be leading the NL West.
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