Houston’s first-place cushion in the AL West is under pressure after a Detroit sweep exposed the Astros’ flaws: an offense that stalled at times, a rotation that sputtered behind a brilliant but squandered outings, and a bullpen that couldn’t steady the ship. A team meeting led by Carlos Correa and Mauricio Dubón stressed energy and a return to Houston’s brand of baseball, signaling a reset. Correa has been a catalyst since returning, batting .333 with an .859 OPS in 17 games this month, while Dubón emphasizes supporting teammates as the lineup grows deeper with Yordan Alvarez nearing a mid-next-week return from rehab. Hunter Brown offered six scoreless innings in the Detroit start, but Houston still lost, underscoring the need for more consistent offense as Spencer Arrighetti and Framber Valdez each faced rough innings. Alvarez’s comeback could spark immediate upside, even as Houston clings to the division lead amid Seattle’s skid and a Dodgers-flavored reminder of MLB volatility. The next few days will be telling as Houston looks to reestablish its rhythm and close the gap to playoff pace.