Houston’s offseason plan centers on preserving core stability while addressing two free-agent questions. Framber Valdez and Victor Caratini are the only consequential free agents from the current roster, with Valdez anchoring the rotation and Caratini handling catching. The rest of the star core—Altuve, Alvarez, Peña, and Brown among others—remains under team control for the near term, creating room to balance extensions, arbitration, and payroll without a full rebuild.

Beyond Valdez and Caratini, the horizon features a mix of arbitration-eligible depth and aging or longer-term contracts. Key decisions will revolve around how aggressively Houston retains or replaces pieces like Abreu, Dubón, Urías, and McCullers, while mapping out long-term commitments for a championship window that runs through the late 2020s and into 2030s via extensions and option structure.

Texas drops a pivotal series opener in Houston as the Astros seize early control with a six-run burst and the Rangers’ late push falls short. Blubaugh’s bullpen-game start stymies Texas early while Merrill Kelly labors through three frames. Cody Freeman’s homer sparks a comeback, Heim’s pinch-hit two-run shot in the eighth fuels a late rally, and García’s first-pitch RBI single keeps the chase alive. Edwards Jr. provides veteran bullpen depth, but Bochy remains wary of García’s health as the Wild Card race tightens.

Toronto erased a 3-1 deficit in the ninth, loading the bases for Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s go-ahead hit as Alejandro Kirk drew the leadoff walk and Ernie Clement followed with a single. Davis Schneider contributed with another walk, setting the table for the dramatic finish. In the 10th, Jeff Hoffman held Houston, and Tyler Heineman delivered a walk-off grounder to cap a 4-3 Jays win, underscoring Toronto’s depth even with Bo Bichette out. George Springer supplied early power, Addison Barger added a late-inning spark, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made a key defensive play that saved a run. The Jays’ 43rd come-from-behind win this season highlighted resilience, depth, and clutch hitting across the lineup.

Houston struck first with two in the opening, then watched the Jays rally; Abreu closed the night for the Astros, but Toronto’s late surge overturned a pivotal miscue and showcased how the offense can manufacture runs without its star shortstop. The win reinforces Toronto’s bullpen and bench as weapons in close games, and the triumphant finish keeps the Blue Jays rolling in a tight, competitive AL race.

Ort and Sousa land on the 15-day IL for Houston, leaving the bullpen thinner as the playoff push looms. Best-case returns for Ort and Sousa are set around the playoffs, while closer Josh Hader also being sidelined magnifies late-inning pressure. Enyel De Los Santos has stepped into leverage work and Jayden Murray was called up after a major-league debut last week. Houston carries a 3.5-game lead in the AL West with 19 games left.

With Hader, Sousa, and Ort out, the Astros lean on De Los Santos in high-leverage spots and will monitor Murray’s innings as they navigate the final stretch. The club’s standing and bullpen health will heavily influence fantasy value for Houston arms and late-inning roles as the season winds down.