The Astros beat the Royals 4-2 on Sep 15. Pena and Yordan did the damage. Manager Joe Espada said Carlos Correa will not return this season because of an ankle injury. Houston are still in the MLB playoff picture. The win keeps them in contention. Recent reports lay out clinching scenarios and tiebreakers for the team. Those details could prove crucial. The Astros must keep stacking wins. Their next games will shape the race. They are genuine contenders for a playoff berth. But nothing is settled yet. The standings are jam-packed. Every result could matter.