HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The Houston Astros’ hopes of a deep postseason run in 2024 are now over. On Wednesday afternoon, Houston fell to the Detroit Tigers 5-2 in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series.

After five scoreless innings, Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows hit the first home run of the game to break the scoring drought and give Detroit a 1-0 lead early in the sixth inning. In the seventh inning, Houston took a 2-1 lead on a bases-loaded opportunity after Jeremy Peña slid across home plate and scored a run vs. Detroit.

In the top of the eighth inning, Detroit answered to tie the game 2-2 after Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter scored a run. The Tigers came back from a three-point score for a 5-2 lead over Houston.

Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown left the game in the top of the sixth inning after striking out nine. Additionally, Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series marked the 26-year-old Detroit native’s first postseason start.

Bregman’s future with or without the Astros?

Now “the elephant in the room” for the Astros is whether third baseman Alex Bregman will stay or leave the franchise. The 30-year-old LSU product was drafted by the ‘Stros with the second pick in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft. As an Astro, Bregman has achieved several accolades, including two World Series Championships (2017 and 2022) and two All-Star selections. He even launched his own food brand called Breggy Bomb. Bregman will head to free agency once the offseason begins. If Bregman decides to leave Houston, only Jose Altuve and Lance McCullers Jr. the remaining players have been since the 2017 World Series run.

JV’s retirement from baseball?

Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander was left off Houston’s playoff roster for the first-round playoff series against Detroit. Coincidentally, Verlander was drafted as drafted by the Tigers in the 2004 MLB Draft. As an Astro, he earned two World Series championships (2017 and 2022). He is a future Hall of Famer and currently the oldest active player in the league at 41 years old. Verlander will test free agency once the offseason begins.

Despite Houston’s postseason run being cut short, the Astros finished their regular season with their fourth straight American League West title. Houston finished 88-73 for the regular season under first-year Astros manager Joe Espada. Astros players Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker were selected for the 2024 MLV All-Star Game, which was held in Arlington, Texas.

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