HOUSTON — The Houston Astros hosted the Toronto Blue Jays at Daikin Park on Tuesday, with both teams seeking to build momentum in a tight American League playoff race. The series arrived less than a week after MLB clubs completed a flurry of deadline deals on July 31, reshaping rosters across the league.

Contending teams moved aggressively to add pitching depth ahead of the stretch run toward October. Houston has leaned on its rotation and a lineup that has carried the club through injuries in recent seasons. Toronto has relied on its offense to remain competitive in the crowded AL East, where several teams are within striking distance of a wild-card berth.

Both managers face pressure to maximize the final two months of the regular season. A strong August could prove decisive in determining which clubs secure home-field advantage and which chase the final postseason spots when September arrives.

The game was part of a wider slate of Tuesday fixtures, including the Texas Rangers hosting the San Francisco Giants, as the pennant races intensified across both leagues.