Would be nice, but it doesn't seem realistic.
The Houston Astros are at a crossroads after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. On the one hand, it appears that the sound of them falling out of first place in the AL West and out of the playoff picture entirely was the sound of the window closing. Or, if your former MLB general manager, Jim Bowden, maybe the fun has just begun.
In his column for The Athletic (subscription required) ranking the non-playoff teams with the best chance to return to the October dance in 2026, Bowden ranked the Astros as the No.