Defensive metrics only work well in large samples. It takes at least a full season before they tell you anything, and then there are some fluke years.
Team is playing really good ball right now. A 7 game win streak, and currently a 6 game win streak, sandwiched around whatever the f**k happened in Oakland.
As we get farther away from that Oakland series, I think it's safe to say that the emotions of the previous week finally caught up to us, and the the wind was let out of our sails a bit. You went from an intense, emotional atmosphere in Houston following Harvey, to Seattle where you had Verlander going for his first start as an Astro, onto Oakland where there were about 36 people in the stands. I think we probably just exhaled as a team for the first time in a while, and it led to our pitchers getting hammered.
Or...things after Oakland would have worked out entirely different (since things changed) and they may have lost the last 6 games.
At this very moment the Astros are 1.5 games behind the Indians, but since Cleveland owns the tiebreaker the Astros need to do 2 games better which was juicystream's point. So, not sure where your 2.5 comes from.
If Astros don't make up at least 2.5 games at the end of the season, the most they can make up is 1.5 games. Only 2 better is not an option.
Except that it is possible. (although the Indians are currently winning their game, let's assume they lose it).The Astros are now one game behind. as they have made up 1/2 a game. Now assume the Astros wins their next two games and Cleveland loses their next game. The Astros are now 1/2 game ahead and have made up 2 games. So, it took 2 games to make up the stagger. Both teams win out and the Astros win the AL.
Bottom line. Indians have to lose 2 more games then we do between now and the end of the season. I was hoping the angels would help us a little. Seattle is just about done so they probably won't help us perhaps Minnesota Will challenge them? Then you have us at Boston for the final 4. Team has been amazing this year and I wint count them out. But not looking good with Cleveland going 25 out of their last 26. Too bad they have to go all his to work on us
That would add up to making up 2.5 games as the Astros would have to win 1 more down the stretch than the Indians in your scenario. MLB will not let the Astros skip that last game.
