Astros offense struggles during playoff push despite first place standing

The Houston Astros maintain a two-game lead in the American League West with three weeks remaining in the regular season. Despite this standing, the offense has failed to score more than three runs in 18 of its last 31 games since August 3. The team's recent offensive slump continued during a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where the club managed only eight runs over 28 innings. While the pitching staff has sustained the team with a 3.26 ERA over the last 13 games, manager Joe Espada noted the lineup is battling through difficult stretches. Star players Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez have seen their offensive numbers decrease significantly since the trade deadline. Houston continues to rely on a top-heavy rotation to remain competitive as the postseason approaches.

• 11:30 AMYahoo Sports — Astros' offense keeps sputtering. Can Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez add a spark for stretch run?