<P> In 2014, Sports Illustrated said that because of the way the Astros put together their team, they would win the 2017 World Series . As of June 9, the Astros were 41--16, which gave them a 13.5 - game lead over the rest of their division, and they had comfortable possession of the best record in the entire league . This is the best start in the 55 years of the Astros' existence . As the games of June 23 concluded, the Astros had an 11.5 - game lead over the rest of the division . The Astros entered the All - Star Break with an American League best 60--29 record and a 16 game lead in the division, although the overall best record in MLB had just barely slipped to the Dodgers shortly before the All - Star Break by just one game . </P> <P> With Hurricane Harvey causing massive flooding throughout Houston and southeast Texas, the Astros' three - game series against the Texas Rangers for August 29--31, was relocated to Tropicana Field (home of the Tampa Bay Rays), in St. Petersburg, Florida . The Astros did play the Rangers far better in 2017, going 12--7 against them and winning the season series . </P> <P> The Astros clinched their first division title as a member of the American League West division, and first division title overall since 2001 . They also became the first team in Major League history to win three different divisions, the National League West in 1980 and 1986, the National League Central from 1997--1999 and 2001, and now the American League West in 2017 . On September 29, the Astros won their 100th game of the season, the second time the Astros finished a season with over 100 wins (the other time was in 1998). They finished 101--61 (with a 21 - game lead in the division), and faced the Red Sox in the second round of the AL playoffs . The Astros defeated the Red Sox three games to one, and advanced to the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees . The Astros won the ALCS four games to three, and advanced to the World Series to play against the Los Angeles Dodgers . The Astros defeated the Dodgers in the deciding seventh game of the World Series, winning the first championship in franchise history . </P> <P> The city of Houston celebrated the team's accomplishment during the afternoon of November 3, 2017 . There was a parade in their honor, and the festivities included a large balloon depicting a baseball, cheerleaders and the animated participation by Orbit . Houston's Independent School District gave the students and teachers the day off to watch the parade . </P>

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