The Houston Astros, holding a five-game lead in the AL West, are gearing up for their final homestand, facing the Los Angeles Angels and the Seattle Mariners. The Astros recently lost 4-0 to the San Diego Padres but performed well overall on their road trip, largely due to strong performances by pitchers Framber Valdez and Yusei Kikuchi. Alex Bregman’s future with the Astros remains uncertain as he approaches free agency and no new contract has been negotiated yet. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes has emerged as a standout pitcher in his debut season, posting a 10-2 record with a 2.10 ERA. The Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals, both out of playoff contention, are set to face off, with Skenes looking to continue his dominant run.