Astros head to playoffs with losing record

Rangers grab 8-4 victory over Houston

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Houston Astros are going into the playoffs with a losing record, a year after having the most wins in the major leagues.

And with a different manager after the sign-stealing scandal last offseason that tarnished their 2017 World Series title.

Dusty Baker is the first manager to take five different teams to the postseason, after replacing the fired AJ Hinch just before spring training. Baker goes into these playoffs with Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and other mainstays who were part of the Astros winning two American League championships the past three seasons.

“It can be a tremendous advantage, because guys have been there,” Baker said. “They know not to panic, they know what to do in certain situations.”

Despite solo homers from Altuve, Correa and Aledmys Diaz, the Astros fell 8-4 Sunday in their regular-season finale, their third consecutive loss to the instate rival Texas Rangers.

“We hit the ball hard the last few (games),” Baker said. “Yuli (Gurriel) hit three rockets tonight, and for nothing. We had good signs. Carlos hit the ball out of the ballpark, Altuve hit the ball out of the ballpark, and Altuve’s been swinging better. … These guys have certainly been there, and they know what to expect.”

The Astros (29-31) went from 107 wins last season to being the last AL team to clinch a berth in an expanded playoff during this pandemic-shortened season. They got in as the second-place team in the AL West that was won by Oakland.

Houston and the Milwaukee Brewers — also 29-31 — are the first teams to ever qualify for the postseason with losing records.

Rougned Odor homered twice for the young Rangers (22-38), who with their series win avoided the worst losing percentage in team history.

They finished at .367, better than only their 1972 and 1973 teams — their first two seasons in Texas.

“It’s a positive way to end a really tough year,” second-year Texas manager Chris Woodward said. “I don’t want to put too much icing on a sour cake because it’s obviously not where we wanted to be at the end of the year, but it was good that we finished strong.”