Astros 'focused' on putting best team on this season

The Houston Astros magic number to clinch their fourth AL West title stands at three with seven games remaining in the regular season.

Overall, the Astros (91-64) lead the Seattle Mariners by six games following back-to-back road losses to the Oakland. For the month of September, the Astros are now 13-10 and their 83-45 record for the month over the last five years represents the top in baseball.

“It’s outside of what we can control, and that’s what we’re focused on,” Astros’ catcher Jason Castro told The Houston Chronicle.

With the postseason looming, the Astros are also focused on being able to put their best team on the season, which translates into getting star outfielder Michael Brantley back healthy.  

Reports are Brantley recently “hit a lull” in his recovery from right knee soreness, leaving his return timetable in question.

Brantley last played on Sept. 11, when he left in the fourth inning of a 4-2 loss against the Angels. The next day Houston put him on the injured list with hopes that his absence would be short-lived.

“It’s going to take a little bit longer than we thought or we had hoped,” manager Dusty Baker recently admitted. “I don’t know, man. You’re asking me questions that I don’t know. Only his body will tell. We’ll see. I don’t know.”