Astros lead National League wild-card
HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros have done little wrong in the past month after doing little right for most of the season. After firing their manager and playing catch-up for the past three months, the Astros began Thursday with an improbable lead in the NL playoff race. They were atop the wild-card standing for the first time this season, a half-game ahead of San Francisco and the Chicago Cubs.

