Astros Fall 5-1 to Athletics, Drop Out of Playoff Position with Five Games Remaining

The Houston Astros are struggling late in the 2025 MLB season, having lost four straight games and falling out of playoff position after a 5-1 loss to the Oakland Athletics. The Astros managed only three hits against Athletics pitchers, with starter Cristian Javier giving up four runs in under five innings. Despite loading the bases early in the game, Houston could only score once on a sacrifice fly, highlighting their lack of clutch hitting. The loss dropped the Astros behind the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians for the final American League wild-card spot, with Houston losing tiebreakers to both teams. Key errors and short outings by an injury-riddled starting rotation have contributed to the Astros' faltering postseason chances, raising concerns about the team's ability to extend their streak of playoff appearances. Meanwhile, the Athletics extended their winning streak against Houston to six games this season, further dimming the Astros' hopes for October baseball.