Astros win No. 52: Putting the win total in context

In Game No. 125, the Houston Astros won their 52nd game. That's significant because that win total is one more than the Astros managed in all of 2013, yet did it in 125 games.

Let's take a quick trip back through history to see when other Astros teams won 52 games and how it relates.

In 2012, the Astros won their 52nd game on Sept. 28, after 157 contests.

In 2011, Houston won No. 52 on Sept. 18, after 152 contests.

In 2010, Houston won No. 52 on Aug. 17 after 118 contests.

In 2009, the Astros won No. 52 on Aug. 2 after 105 games.

In 2008 (or Houston's last winning season), No. 52 came on Aug. 2 after 109 games.

In 2005 (that World Series team), No. 52 came on July 25 after 100 games.

In 2004 (the comeback kids), No. 52 came on July 31 after 104 games.

In 2000 (the one disastrous year amid a streak of goodness), No. 52 came on Aug. 22 after 126 games.

In 1998, No. 52 came on July 3 after 85 games.

In the strike-shortened 1994 season, No. 52 came on July 17 after 92 games.

In 1991 (the previous worst in franchise history), No. 52 came on Aug. 27 after 125 games.

In 1986, No. 52 came on July 22 after 94 games.

In 1980, No. 52 came on July 21 after 92 games.

In 1965 (first season in the 'Dome), No. 52 came on Aug. 24 after 125 games.

In 1962 (franchise's first season), No. 52 came on Sept. 5 after 140 games.

What do we know about the rest of the month? Houston is 8-8 in July and has outscored its opponents by nine runs. The Astros finish the month with the Yankees, Cleveland, Oakland and the Rangers. Houston is 5-8 against Oakland this season, 2-1 against the Yanks and 8-4 against Arlington. The Astros have not played the 62-61 Indians yet in 2014.

After this weekend, FanGraphs projects Houston to win 68 games this season. That'd be the most since 2010, but only the 13th worst season in franchise history.

Progress?