Apr 27, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Houston Astros hat and glove in the dugout during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. William Purnell-Imagn Images

Will Injuries End Up Costing Astros Their Division Lead?

Originally posted on Houston Astros on SI | By Jacob Moss | Last updated Jul 21, 2025 8:00 PM ET

One of the most intriguing storylines over the first half of the 2025 season was the Houston Astros' continued dominance in the AL West, despite the onslaught of injuries they had been forced to endure.

It seemed like every other week, the Astros were putting another key player on the 10 or 15-day IL for some reason or another, and they still managed to stack up wins, no matter who it was they were missing.

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Many assumed that the second half would bring similar fortunes, but with the recent news of star third baseman Isaac Parades being put on the shelf with a strained hamstring, concern has begun to grow about whether Houston will be able to remain atop the AL West standings while missing so many key pieces.

They've obviously weathered the storm so far, but have gone just 2-7 since coming back from the All-Star break, and just dropped two of six against the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners in back-to-back three-game sets.

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This has in turn led to the Astros' seemingly comfortable lead atop the division table being dwindled down to just four games, while their two biggest threats out west have been surging at the exact same time.

The Astros are currently down 5 of their 9 opening day starters and 3/5 of their opening day starting rotation, all due to injuries. They have more players on the IL than any team in baseball. They are currently in first place.

If this team survives...
— Daniel Meyer (@TheAstrosLocker) July 20, 2025

Now, with Houston expecting to miss another vital piece of their lineup for at least a couple of weeks, it's hard to imagine any scenario in which the Stros don't see their already slimming lead cut down even more.

The question now is whether Houston can hold out long enough to get the reinforcements they desperately need from the IL before the Mariners can overtake them for first place, and the Rangers move within striking distance of doing the same.

Positive reports have already begun to surface regarding star slugger Yordan Alvarez and veteran starter Spencer Arrighetti in their respective recoveries, and they are also expecting several other injured players to return at some point.

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Only time will tell whether or not those reinforcements arrive before they find themselves battling for second place in the AL West instead of fighting off the rest of the field while still in first.

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This article first appeared on Houston Astros on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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