What happened: Houston added Rafael Montero, Yimi Garcia, Phil Maton and Yainer Diaz while moving Bryan De La Cruz and Myles Straw. The deals targeted a bullpen that had become the club’s clearest weakness.

Why it matters: Maton supplied postseason relief work, while Montero rebounded the following season. De La Cruz later performed at replacement level, while Straw remained productive after leaving Houston.

What to watch: Houston trails 9-3 in an in-progress game. The Astros entered it leading the series 2-0.