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: The Houston Astros celebrate 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

5. They can win on the road when it counts

If championship journeys are as much mental as physical, the Astros cleared one huge hurdle when finishing off their World Series victory on Wednesday night. They took care of business at Minute Maid park in every prior round, but after dropping Game 4 to the Dodgers, a title meant winning one game in L.A.

Though they had already done it once in the insane Game 2, the Game 7 win was much more convincing. Without either Dallas Keuchel or Justin Verlander, the Astros held the formidable Dodgers lineup to a single run, scoring enough of their own that the outcome was never truly in doubt.

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That jibes with what the Astros did during the regular season, when they tied the Indians with the most road wins (53) in the majors. Of course, playoff baseball is an entirely different beast, but Houston has proven it can tame that beast when it matters most, regardless of where the road to a repeat might run.

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