Astros' World Series odds unchanged despite five-game skid

It’s going to take more than a five-game losing streak for oddsmakers to lose faith in the Houston Astros. The club’s odds of winning the 2019 World Series are holding fast at +200 despite their late-season skid.

The losing streak, which ended Sunday afternoon, included surprisingly lopsided defeats to the Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics, a pair of teams with inferior records and inferior personnel to the 79-46 Astros.

2019 World Series Odds

Few expected the Astros to appear so vulnerable, but there are still five reasons to believe they’ll be the last team standing at the end of October.

This isn’t the first time Houston has endured a cold snap

The Astros lost seven straight in mid-June to drop their record to 48-30. However, A.J. Hunch's club never panicked and won seven of its final eight games prior to the All-Star break.

Houston also lost five consecutive games from August 8-12, 2017, but finished the regular season with a franchise-best 101 wins and its first World Series title. Even great teams can go into a funk, particularly over the course of a grueling 162 game season.

Houston has the best starting rotation in baseball

The Astros won the trade deadline by acquiring six-time all-star Zack Greinke from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 35-year-old right-hander is part of a fearsome foursome that includes Cy Young candidates Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole and dependable 11-game winner Wade Miley.

No less an authority than John Smoltz has called it the best rotation he’s ever seen, noting that it’s “way better” than the dominant trio he formed with Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine from 1993-99 on the Atlanta Braves.

The Astros bullpen has been solid

Houston’s bullpen has the fourth lowest ERA in the major leagues and the second-lowest batting average against. Closer Roberto Osuna gets much of the attention, but Ryan Pressly may be the team's most indispensable weapon. The right-hander is 2-3 with a 2.61 ERA and career-best 0.931 WHIP and has surrendered just 34 hits in 48 1/3 innings pitched.

Pressly recently missed two weeks with a right knee contusion, but is back just in time for the stretch drive. Speaking of good health...

Houston is finally healthy

With the exception of Cole, who missed his last outing dealing with right hamstring discomfort, the Astros’ key players are finally healthy. Three-time batting champ Jose Altuve is back from the hamstring strain that cost him 35 games earlier this season, all-star shortstop Carlos Correa has recovered from an early season rub fracture and all-star outfielder George Springer is back after he battled his own hamstring issues.

The Astros’ offense has been spectacular

The Astros may not boast the raw power of the New York Yankees, but they're elite in every other way. Houston ranks in the top five league-wide in runs, hits, home runs, total bases, RBIs, batting average, on base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.

The Astros' already sensational offense has gotten even better this year, with the addition of first baseman Yordan Alvarez, who is hitting .335 with 19 homers and 55 RBIs, despite only being called up to the bigs June 9. The 22-year-old was named American League Rookie of the Month in June and July and has shown an impressive ability to make adjustments upon facing teams for the second time.

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