The Houston Astros are bracing for the return of reinforcements to their starting rotation, having opted against adding new pitchers at the trade deadline. With Spencer Arrighetti scheduled for a potential return in the upcoming Miami series after a successful Triple-A rehab outing, the Astros hope to stabilize their rotation. Cristian Javier continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, while Luis Garcia and JP France are still building their pitch counts in rehab starts. Lance McCullers Jr. faces uncertainty as his eligibility comes up following a finger blister injury.

Despite a recent loss to the Boston Red Sox, where the Astros fell 7-3, their current rotation of Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Colton Gordon, and Jason Alexander has shown resilience. However, Gordon's performance against the Red Sox, surrendering six runs, highlights the pitching struggles the team has faced amid injuries, meaning the Astros must navigate these challenges carefully as they work to maintain their lead in the AL West.