Astros reach seventh straight ALCS, set stage for all-Texas series

On Wednesday evening, the Houston Astros defeated the Minnesota Twins 3-2 in Game 4 of the ALDS, booking a spot in the ALCS for the seventh straight season. In doing so, the Astros are now just one consecutive ALCS berth away from tying the 1991-1999 Atlanta Braves, whose eight straight NLCS appearances are the most in Major League Baseball history.

In Houston, the remarkable run began back in 2017, just four years removed from three consecutive seasons where the team did not win more than 56 games across each season.

Remaining from that 2017 World Series team are just four players in Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Lance McCullers and Justin Verlander. The rest of the roster has been revamped with players such as Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Pena and, most recently, offseason acquisition, Jose Abreu.

Next up for the Astros will be their in-state rival in the Texas Rangers, who are coming off an impressive three-game sweep over the Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS and have won six of their last seven, dating back to the regular season.

Prior to Wednesday’s game, Rangers fans had already made it clear who they wanted to face next with chants of "We want Houston!" erupting throughout Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, during their series clinching win against the Orioles.

Now, they’ve got their wish.

Across the 2023 regular season, the Astros won nine of 13 played, defeating the Rangers in seven of their last eight, including an emphatic sweep in September. Yet, this is playoff baseball, and in the magical month of October, nothing is guaranteed. For reference, both the Dodgers and Braves, the NL's top two teams, are on the brink of elimination in the NLDS. 

In the playoffs, this will be a meeting of firsts for these two teams. The Astros, who moved to the AL in 2013, have never faced the Rangers in the playoffs and ahead of their matchup each team has their own history and storylines.

If the Astros are to advance, they’ll look to become the first team since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees (three straight World Series wins) to win consecutive World Series championships.

On the other side, if the Rangers are to advance, they’ll be looking for their first World Series title in their 51-year history, nearly 12 years removed from being one strike away on Oct. 27, 2011, in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series.