With a 4-1 loss to the Red Sox in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, the Astros' bid to repeat as World Series champs is officially over.

"To be honest with you, this year's team is better than last year's team, I believe," said third baseman Alex Bregman, who reached base 10 times in the first three games of the series, but went 0-for-9 in Games 4 and 5. "The ball's got to bounce your way in the postseason. It's tough, and we'll learn from it. Everyone in here will have a little bit of an edge to play with next year, a little bit of a chip on their shoulder, knowing that we believe we should have been back-to-back champions."