Houston surged in the AL playoff race by taking the opener and building a three‑game cushion with 11 to play for the final spot, but Yordan Alvarez’s ankle setback adds a fresh hurdle. Houston trails 6-5 in the season series and must sweep to force a tiebreaker. A.J. Blubaugh will start for the Astros against Merrill Kelly as J.P. France nears a comeback, underscoring how depth and bullpen timing will shape the final stretch for fantasy managers tracking Alvarez, Houston’s offense and rotation health.

J.P. France returned from shoulder surgery to pitch a scoreless eighth for Houston, his first big-league appearance in 509 days. He reached 93.3 mph, a velocity spike that signaled a mental reset after rehab while Houston battles injuries and positions him for a late-season bullpen role. The outing came in a lopsided game against Atlanta, but the moment signaled a potential spark for a rotation-stretched Astros as they host a pivotal homestand.