Don't look now, but here come the Houston Astros

Death, taxes and the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series. Those have been the certainties of life since 2017 as the Astros have made seven straight trips to the ALCS. It looks like an eighth could be in order. Houston is 9-1 in its last 10 and Justin Verlander returns from the injured list Wednesday.

Verlander has not pitched since June 9, missing the past two months with neck soreness. The 41-year-old has made 10 starts this season and compiled a 3-2 record with a 3.95 ERA. He will face a Boston Red Sox team that's fighting for its playoff life, currently 4.5 games back for the third wild-card spot.

At 68-56, the Astros lead the AL West and they have jumped to the sixth-best record in the American League. The last time Verlander pitched, the Astros had the fourth-worst record in the AL and were third in the division.

Since Aug. 6, Houston is 11-1 and has outscored its opponents 61-30. Yordan Alvarez is a major reason for the club's success. The All-Star is hitting .425 with a 1.415 OPS in that span, including five home runs and three doubles. On the mound, Framber Valdez has won eight straight decisions. He and Hunter Brown have combined to go 17-4 in Verlander's absence — providing a scary thought for opposing offenses as the three-time Cy Young Award winner prepares to rejoin the rotation.

Competition is stiff in the American League this season, but the Astros are trending in the right direction at the right time. The remainder of the month will be a test though. After Houston finishes its series with Boston, the team will play four games at Baltimore, three at Philadelphia and three at home against Kansas City.

If history says anything, it's that the veteran-laden Astros will be there when it's winning time. As October approaches, here they come again, ready for another postseason run.