Chicago Cubs: Playoff odds continue to fall for World Champions

Dominant Astros running away with AL West

Last year, the Houston Astros appeared poised to emerge from rebuilder to contender. They fell just short of that mark and question marks arose. Hot out of the gates in 2017, Houston enters June 12 games above .500 on the road and 10 over at Minute Maid Park.

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Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve have combined for 61 runs batted in this year. The middle infield duo boasts a combined average north of .300, leading the Houston offense. Dallas Kuechel headlines a starting rotation that ranks near the top of the American League, thanks to the outburst of Lance McCullers.

That’s not to say this team is destined to win it all.

Fangraphs pegs the Astros at a virtual lock, though, to make the postseason at 99.6 percent postseason odds. In fact, Houston has a 98.8 percent chance to win the AL West. Needless to say, those are pretty solid chances.

Injuries always hold the potential to derail a team. Losing a major piece like Correa or Kuechel could put a damper on the team’s World Series hopes, but, either way, October baseball seems like a sure thing.