What happened: Baltimore Sun's roundtable takes up whether Mike Elias should buy or sell before the trade deadline, though Elias had already confirmed the Orioles' plans to buy for the stretch run days earlier. Baltimore enters Friday on a four-game winning streak.
Why it matters: The debate underscores how thin Baltimore's margin is at 43-45, sitting below .500 even as a front office already committed to adding weighs which pieces to prioritize before Aug. 3.
By the numbers: Orioles are 43-45, averaging 4.6 runs scored and allowed, on a four-game win streak after going W-W-W-W-L over their last five. Astros enter 44-46 with a one-game losing streak, having gone L-W-L-L-W over their last five.
What to watch: Baltimore opens at Houston tonight with the game still scheduled; the Astros are listed as favorites with the total set at 8.5.