If you’ve been out of the loop for a decade or just started following baseball, the answer to what league are the astros in might surprise you. They aren't where they used to be. For over fifty years, the Houston Astros were a staple of the National League (NL). They wore the "senior circuit" patch with pride, battling the Cardinals and the Braves for divisional dominance.
But things changed. Big time.
Today, the Houston Astros play in the American League (AL). Specifically, they are a powerhouse in the American League West division.
It wasn't a choice they made because they felt like trying something new. It was a forced move, a "voluntold" situation that happened back in 2013 as part of a massive Major League Baseball (MLB) realignment. Honestly, it was one of the most controversial shifts in modern sports history, and many fans in Houston still remember the sting of losing those old rivalries.
The 2013 Shift: Why the Astros Moved to the American League
So, why did this happen? It basically boils down to math and a billionaire’s agreement.
Before 2013, MLB had an uneven setup. The National League had 16 teams, while the American League only had 14. This meant the NL Central was a crowded mess of six teams, while the AL West was a lonely four-team island. This imbalance made scheduling a nightmare and gave certain teams a statistically harder path to the playoffs.
MLB Commissioner at the time, Bud Selig, wanted two leagues of 15 teams each. This would create three divisions of five teams across the board.
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But to make that work, someone had to move.
Enter Jim Crane. In 2011, Crane was in the process of buying the Astros from Drayton McLane. MLB basically used the sale as leverage. If Crane wanted the keys to the franchise, he had to agree to move the team to the American League. He wasn't thrilled—he even negotiated a $70 million discount on the purchase price to compensate for the anticipated loss in TV revenue and the increased travel to the West Coast.
The move became official on March 31, 2013. The Astros made their AL debut by beating their new in-state rivals, the Texas Rangers, 8-2.
Life in the American League West
Joining the American League changed everything about how the team is built. The most obvious change was the Designated Hitter (DH). While the NL eventually adopted the DH permanently in 2022, for nearly a decade, the Astros had to adjust to a style of play where pitchers no longer hit.
The division they landed in, the AL West, put them up against:
- Texas Rangers: A natural "Lone Star Series" rivalry.
- Seattle Mariners: Lots of late-night flights to the Pacific Northwest.
- Los Angeles Angels: Constant battles against generational talents like Mike Trout.
- Oakland/Las Vegas Athletics: A long-standing division mainstay.
In the 2025 season, the Astros finished with an 87-75 record. They actually tied with the Detroit Tigers for the final Wild Card spot but lost the tiebreaker, missing the playoffs for the first time in years. It was a rare "down" year for a team that has basically owned the American League for the last decade.
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A Dynasty Born in the AL
It’s wild to think about now, but when the Astros first moved to the AL, they were terrible. We’re talking three straight seasons of 100+ losses. But that "tanking" or rebuilding phase allowed them to draft stars like Alex Bregman and develop Jose Altuve.
Since the move, they’ve achieved things they never did in the National League:
- Two World Series titles (2017, 2022).
- Four American League Pennants.
- A record-breaking seven consecutive ALCS appearances.
They are currently the only team in MLB history to win a pennant in both the National League (2005) and the American League. That’s a trivia fact that'll win you a beer at any sports bar.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Move
A common misconception is that the Astros moved because they wanted to be in the same division as the Rangers. While the "Silver Boot" rivalry is great for ticket sales, it wasn't the primary driver. It was purely about balancing the leagues to 15 teams each to facilitate year-round interleague play.
Another myth is that the Astros "got better" because the American League is easier. That’s just not true. The AL has historically been the "power" league. The Astros got better because they pioneered a data-heavy, analytical approach to player development that other teams are still trying to copy.
The National League Roots (1962–2012)
We can't talk about what league are the astros in without acknowledging the 51 years they spent in the NL. They started as the Houston Colt .45s in 1962. When they moved into the revolutionary Astrodome in 1965, they became the Astros.
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They played in the NL West from 1969 to 1993, then moved to the NL Central in 1994. Older fans still miss the "Killer B’s" era—Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio leading the charge against the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. Those games felt personal. The move to the AL felt like losing a piece of history for some, even if the trophies that followed helped ease the pain.
Current Standing and the 2026 Outlook
As we sit in early 2026, the Astros are looking to reclaim their throne. After narrowly missing the 2025 postseason, the front office has been aggressive. Their home field, Daikin Park (formerly Minute Maid Park), remains one of the most hitter-friendly environments in the league.
The AL West is tougher than ever. The Mariners have a rotation that won't quit, and the Rangers are always a threat to spend big in free agency. But the Astros are still the team everyone loves to hate and everyone fears to play.
Actionable Steps for Astros Fans
If you’re trying to keep up with the team this season, here is how to stay informed:
- Check the AL West Standings: Don't look for them in the National League box scores. They are listed under the American League West.
- Watch the DH: Since the move, the Astros have mastered using the Designated Hitter spot to keep veteran bats in the lineup. Watch how they rotate players like Yordan Alvarez through that spot to keep them healthy.
- Follow the Lone Star Series: The games against the Texas Rangers are the most intense on the schedule. These are usually the best games to attend in person for the atmosphere.
- Monitor Realignment News: There are always rumors about MLB expanding to 32 teams. If that happens, the divisions will change again, but it’s highly unlikely the Astros will ever move back to the National League.
The Astros are firmly entrenched in the American League. They’ve traded their old NL rivalries for a decade of AL dominance, and despite the "trash can" scandals and the 100-loss seasons of the past, they remain the gold standard for how to build a winning culture in the modern era.