What happened: The Houston Astros will start Tatsuya Imai on the mound today. The 28-year-old right-hander gets the call as the club navigates its midsummer schedule.

Why it matters: Houston needs a quality outing from the rotation to maintain momentum in the divisional race. Conserving the bullpen remains a priority during this busy stretch of the calendar.

What to watch: The coaching staff will monitor his pitch count closely through the middle innings. Attention then shifts to how the relievers align to secure the final outs.