The sky isn't falling on the Astros...yet

The 2015 Astros have been a fun ride on the whole, no one expected Houston to even be where they are today. Going into the season, everyone would have been happy with a .500.

For the most part of the Astros have been .500: 16-13 in May, 15-14 in June, 12-12 in July, and 15-13 in August. The biggest difference in the year has been thus far is April, Houston was 15-7 that month. How long ago does April feel?

It feels a lifetime ago as the Astros have gone 4-9 in September and have fallen out of first place for the first time in 139 days. Houston is just 3-7 in their the last ten games, and lost their last two game to Texas. The Rangers now lead the American League West.

The sky is falling right?

Yes, but it's not quite a downpour yet. Houston sends out the front runner for the 2015 AL Cy-Young award, Dallas Keuchel and a candidate for the 2015 Rookie of the Year Lance McCullers for the final two games in Texas.

Things can look a lot better if Houston finds a way to split this series. Either Way the Astros head home to face the Athletics, Angels, and Rangers at home. Houston is 48-24 (.667) at home. The Astros are 3-3 against the A's, 5-1 against the Angels, and 2-4 against the Rangers at Minute Maid Park in 2015.

Finally, they finish the season against the Mariners and Diamondbacks on the road - collectively the Astros are 12-7 against these team.

The Rangers have a losing record against the Athletics (6-10) and the Angels (5-10) who they play seven of their last 18 games against.

I realize stats like these are troublous and can't be overlooked:

Astros 9-26 on road since July 4. Hitting .229 with .295 OBP and scoring 3.5 runs per game. @Astros

— Richard Justice (@richardjustice) September 16, 2015

But my point is all is not lost. The division isn't lost. The playoffs aren't lost. Let them play these games out. If anything this team has shown it's full of surprises.