What happened: With the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaching, the Astros are weighing which pieces to move while Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns evaluates how far his club leans into selling. New York sits at 40-57 on the season, on a one-game losing streak after going 2-3 over its last five.
Why it matters: A losing record and sub-.500 run differential (4.1 runs scored per game against 4.7 allowed) push the Mets toward the sell side of the market. Stearns has already been connected to moving the same Luke Weaver Phillies scouts have eyed as a rotation option, a sign the roster is under evaluation piece by piece.
By the numbers: Mets: 40-57 record, last five games LWLWL, current streak L1, 4.1 runs scored per game, 4.7 runs allowed per game.
What to watch: Both front offices have until Aug. 3 to finalize any moves, with Stearns' next public comments expected to shape how aggressively the Mets sell.