5 reasons the Houston Astros can repeat as World Series champs in 2018

5 reasons the Houston Astros could be celebrating another World Series title in 2018

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 29: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros celebrates with George Springer #4 after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the 2017 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros holds the Commissioner’s Trophy after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in game seven to win the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

3. Jeff Luhnow is so hot right now

Many teams attempt to do what the Astros did at the beginning of the season, adding veteran savvy to a young but untested nucleus. Few ever pull it off quite as successfully as GM Jeff Luhnow just did.

Josh Reddick and Brian McCann proved to be valuable contributors all the way to the title, shoring up positions of weakness in the field. Yuli Gurriel hit at the MLB level the way he did in Cuba, solving a long-running quandary about what to do at first base.

And after the regular trade deadline passed without much of a splash, leaving some Astros fans grumbling, Luhnow swooped in and grabbed Justin Verlander from the Detroit Tigers, and he was dominant for most of the postseason.

The roster has holes entering 2018 — certainly, some things in the bullpen will have to be addressed — but who would bet against Luhnow figuring out how to paper them over in time for another title run?

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