After winning their first World Series title in 2017, the Astros improved in wins in back-to-back seasons (103-59 and 107-55). Twice in the past two years, Houston lost in the playoffs to teams with chemistry on their side. Boston took them out in the 2018 ALCS (4-1), followed by a game seven loss in the World Series last year to the Washington Nationals. Since 1996, the Astros have made the postseason in 10 different years with one other appearance in the World Series. In the franchise's 58-year history, they made the playoffs 13 times.
Their significant loss in the offseason was the dynamic arm of Gerrit Cole, who jumped to the New York Yankees.