Houston Astros Postseason History

1980 - For the first time since beginning play as the Colt .45's in 1962, the team would make the postseason. However it wasn't easy. After being swept by the L.A. Dodgers in the final series of the year to finish the regular season tied with L.A. with a 92-70 record, the team would rebound in the one game playoff with a 7-1 victory to win the N.L. West Division. The Astros would face the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS. The series would go to a winner-take-all game 5 and with Nolan Ryan on the mound and a 5-2 lead in the 8th inning, the Phillies would take a late lead and enventually win the game 8-7 to advance to the World Series.

1981 - Due the 2-month MLB players strike during the season, baseball created a divisional playoff series for the first time. The L.A. Dodgers won the 1st half(before strike) division title, while the Astros would win the 2nd half(after strike) division title. Houston would win the first two games of the NLDS series before Los Angeles reeled off three straight to win the series 3-2 and advance to the NLCS.

1986 - Behind the outstanding season from ace Mike Scott, who had clinched the N.L. West with a 2-0 no-hitter against the S.F. Giants, Houston would clash with a N.Y. Mets team that went 108-54 in the regular season. Game 6 of the series is considered one of baseball's greatest contests of all-time. The Astros would lose to the Mets in 16 innings that game as Mike Scott who had won games 1 and 4 and was slated to start game 7 looked on.

1997 - The Astros finally make it back to the postseason since losing to the Mets in the NLCS in 1986. However they would be swept 3-0 in the series by a Atlanta Braves team that started future hall of famers, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz in the 3 games.

1998 - The N.L. Central Division Astros would win a franchise record 102 games this season boosted by mid-season acquisition Randy Johnson. "The Big Unit" would go 10-1 for Houston down the stretch. However he would falter against the San Diego Padres in the NLDS losing games 1 and 4 as the Astros lose the series 3-1.

1999 - After winning the N.L. Central Division for the 3rd straight year behind career years from pitchers Mike Hamptons(22 wins) and Jose Lima(21 wins), Houston would face Atlanta for the 2nd time in three years. The Astros would avoid the sweep but lose the series 3-1 as the Braves advanced to their 8th straight NLCS.

2001 - Once again the Central Division champion Astros would draw the Braves in the NLDS. Despite have home field advantage and the best record in the National League, Houston would get swept by Atlanta 3-0.

2004 - The Astros would win the N.L. Wildcard for the first time and face the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS. This time, 20 game winner Roy Oswalt and star slugger Jeff Bagwell would ensure the Astros would prevail over the Braves for the first time in five tries in the postseason with the 3-2 series win. Houston would face St. Louis in the NLCS and despite having a 3-2 series lead, they would lose games 6 & 7 to fall short of making their first World Series.

2005 - With an all-star rotaion featuring Andy Pettitte, Roy Oswalt and Roger Clemens, Houston would earn its 2nd straight Wild Card berth. In the NLDS, they would defeat the Atlanta Braves 3 games to 1 including a decisive 18-inning 7-6 game 4 win that set the ML record for time & innings. The NLCS would be a rematch against the Cardinals, but this time the Astros would prevail winning the series 4-2 and advance to their first World Series in franchise history. The Astros would eventually be swept in the fall classic 4-0 by the Chicago White Sox.

2015 - The Houston Astros head to the Bronx to take on the New York Yankees in the win-or-go-home one game wild card playoff. TSH Prediction: Expect 20-game winner Dallas Keuchel to continue to stymie the Yanks as 200-hits all-star 2nd baseman Jose Altuve and rookie sensation shortstop Carlos Correa provide enough offense for a Astros 3-1 win.