The Houston Astros have been on a franchise-wide tear since 2017, making the playoffs each season and winning a pair of World Series titles during that stretch.
That seven-year itch began in 2017, however, when an upstart Houston squad that was four years removed from a 111-loss campaign won their club’s first championship, knocking off the L.A. Dodgers in seven games.
That championship run set the table for a 2018 Astros squad that had one of the best late season stretches in MLB history, going 35-18 (.660) after the trade deadline that year.
BetTexas.com took a look at where the best teams of the season’s stretch run stack up. Utilizing MLB.com, BetTexas.com found the MLB teams with the best winning percentage after the trade deadline since 2016.
Unfortunately there is no sports betting in Texas for MLB fans. It will be until the 2025 Texas Legislature before wagering can be addressed again.
Best Post-Trade Deadline Teams Since 2016
Houston is hoping to make another post-deadline run this year after reacquiring pitcher Justin Verlander from the New York Mets. Although there are no Texas betting apps, that trade lifted the Astros odds at national operators.
Houston is tied with Tampa Bay for the third-best World Series odds at +700. Atlanta is first at +325, and the L.A. Dodgers are second at +500.
Late Run Lifted 2022 Astros to Title
The Astros have three of the best teams after the deadline since 2016, including the 2019 team that went 38-15 (.717), en route to a seven-game World Series defeat at the hands of the Washington Nationals.
The other two Houston squads to crack the top 10 post-deadline teams were the 2022 team (39-18, .684) and that 2018 Astros team.
The best team since 2016 after the deadline was the 2021 Dodgers, who went 44-13 (.772) down the stretch, followed by the 2017 Cleveland Guardians (35-13, .729) and the 2021 San Francisco Giants (43-16, .729).
Of the top 10 post-deadline teams since 2016, only the 2022 Astros and the 2016 Chicago Cubs (38-18, .679) went on to win a World Series championship that year.
The Astros are trying to repeat as champions after beating Philadelphia in the World Series last season. But Houston is facing a stiff challenge from the Texas Rangers in the America League West.
Despite Houston’s trade moves and World Series odds, the Rangers are the AL West favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook (there is no FanDuel Sportsbook Texas). Texas is -140, while Houston is +110.
