What happened: Ahead of the MLB trade deadline, the Houston Astros sit at 42-44, two games below .500. The club has steadied recently, winning two in a row and four of its last five.

Why it matters: The deadline decision carries real weight for a franchise built around deep October runs. Sitting under .500 sharpens the buy-or-sell question, one already floated when Houston was sized up among potential deadline sellers earlier this month.

What to watch: Houston's play over the coming weeks figures to tip the front office toward adding or subtracting as the deadline approaches.