Astros Enter September in Tight AL West Battle After Up-and-Down Summer

The Houston Astros have endured a season of highs and lows, yet remain atop the American League West as the calendar turns to September.

Houston holds a three-game lead over the Seattle Mariners and a 4.5-game advantage on the Texas Rangers following Labor Day.

With Texas charging and plenty of baseball left, securing another division crown will be no easy task.

The Astros’ cushion was built on a strong early stretch, particularly in June, but the club stumbled through the summer. They finished just under .500 in both July and August, continuing a season marked by streaky play.

Even so, Houston remains among baseball’s elite and a contender for another deep October run.

In MLB.com’s final regular-season power rankings, writer Will Leitch placed the Astros at No. 10, down one spot from the previous week as the New York Yankees jumped ahead.