Houston manager Dusty Baker announced early on Friday a contingency plan for his weekend rotation, with right-hander Chase De Jong in line to start Saturday in the event the Astros clinched a postseason berth on Friday night against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field.
The Astros (29-29) failed in their bid to secure the final American League postseason bid on their own accord, falling 5-4 in 10 innings after closer Ryan Pressly surrendered a game-tying solo homer to Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzman with two outs and two strikes in the ninth.
"We were so close to clinching it," Baker said.