Astros forgo pitching additions at trade deadline; rely on fragile rotation

The Houston Astros did not acquire any pitchers before the trade deadline on August 1, 2026, focusing instead on bolstering their lineup by acquiring center fielder Daulton Varsho. General manager Dana Brown mentioned that the team considered internal options, but the rotation remains a concern as it now features Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski, both recently returning from elbow surgeries. Wesneski has shown promise with a 3.86 ERA in his first two starts, while Blanco struggled with a 7.36 ERA. The Astros previously missed the playoffs last season after failing to address their pitching issues at the trade deadline.

• 12:10 AMYahoo Sports — For second year in a row, Astros missed on pitching at trade deadline. Can fragile rotation hold up?