Houston leaned on Bryan Abreu to anchor a thinning bullpen, reinforced by a face-to-face talk with Joe Espada about the trust placed in him in late innings as the division chases heat ahead of a tight stretch. A recent rough spell and Josh Hader’s injury sharpen the spotlight on Abreu’s ability to hold leads and bridge to the next reliever.

Jason Alexander provided a stabilizing seven innings to set up a dramatic ninth, and Yainer Diaz delivered the deciding blow in a 3-2 win over Toronto, while the Blue Jays leaned on Springer, Guerrero Jr., Kirk and Lukes in a close loss. The result underscored how tiny late-game edges swing fantasy value and real outcomes in a pennant chase.