What happened: Houston turned to offseason questions after a 7-3 final Thursday. Joe Espada heads into the winter with his contract expiring, and the Astros also have a general manager vacancy.

Why it matters: That keeps focus on Joe Espada and the club's front-office opening as Houston moves into the offseason. How the Astros answer those two jobs will shape the next stage of their winter.

What to watch: Watch for Houston's decisions on Espada and its general manager search. Those moves should set the timeline for the Astros' offseason plan.