ATLANTA -- There are two weeks remaining in the regular season, but the Astros’ upcoming homestand against the Rangers and Mariners -- the two teams that they’re locked in a dogfight with in the American League West and the two hottest teams in the Major Leagues -- will go a long way in determining their postseason fate.

Houston wasn’t able to finish off a three-game sweep of Atlanta on Sunday afternoon at Truist Park after starter Framber Valdez gave up five earned runs in four-plus innings of work in an 8-3 loss . So if the Mariners beat the Angels on Sunday, the Astros will drop out of first place for the first time since June 2.

Houston’s second-half slide -- the club led the division by six games on July 23 -- has it in danger of not winning the division in a full season for the

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