Although they compiled a losing record last year, nevertheless, the 2020 season contained two silver linings for the Astros:
- An unexpected and somewhat redemptive deep run into the playoffs.
- The emergence of previously little known and unheralded rookie pitchers to fill in for a veteran roster decimated by injury.
Without the unexpected over-achievement of this group, the Astros would not have made the playoffs even in the expanded format of 2020. And most of these guys came up big in the playoffs, helping to get the Astros one win from another World Series.