HOUSTON — The Houston Astros are back in the MLB playoffs for the eighth straight season. The team has the No. 3 seed in the American League locked up, but who they'll play in the Wild Card round comes down to the final game of the season. It'll be either the Kansas City Royals or the Detroit Tigers.
The 2024 playoffs begin for the Astros on Oct. 1. All games of the best-of-three series will be played at Minute Maid Park.
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The Astros have the worst record among the three division champs in the American League, meaning Houston is the top-ranked team in the Wild Card round. They'll take on the lowest-seeded Wild Card team.
Because both the Tigers and the Royals lost Saturday, the outcome of their games on Sunday will determine who the Astros will face in the Wild Card round. The Tigers hold a one-game lead over the Royals, but Kansas City would win the tiebreaker.
The Tigers will host the White Sox at 2:10 p.m. Houston time. The Royals are at the Braves at 2:20 p.m.
So...
- If the Tigers win Sunday, the Astros would face the Royals.
- If the Tigers lose and the Royals win, the Astros would face the Tigers.
- If both teams lose or both teams win, the Astros would face the Royals.
The Baltimore Orioles have also secured their spot in the Wild Card round and will face either Kansas City or Detroit -- whichever one the Astros aren't playing.
The Cleveland Guardians and the New York Yankees will be the top two seeds in the AL and will not have to play in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. If the Astros get past the Wild Card round, they'll take on Cleveland in the ALDS.
The Astros are AL West division champs for the fourth straight season and are looking to advance to their eighth straight AL Championship Series and their fifth World Series since 2017.