The race for the top spot in the AL West division is starting to heat up as the MLB regular season reaches a new week. The Houston Astros continue to have the top spot, but the Seattle Mariners are heating up, just a half-game behind.
Houston will look to battle it out with the Mariners, who are on a seven-game winning streak entering Monday. The Astros have been adjusting to multiple trade acquisitions since the MLB trade deadline. They have a 4-5 record in August.
Heading into a series against the Boston Red Sox this week, the Astros will be giving Cristian Javier the nod at the mound on Monday. Javier was reinstated from the 60-day injured list after spending nearly 15 months rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
After announcing the reinstatement of Javier on Monday, the Astros optioned left-handed starter Colton Gordon to Triple-A Sugar Land after the team's 7-1 series-clinching win over the New York Yankees on Sunday, according to MLB insider Will Kunkel.
The Astros have reinstated RHP Cristian Javier from the 60-day IL...LHP Colton Gordon was optioned to Triple A after yesterday’s game…an additional 40-man roster move will be announced prior to tonight’s game.
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelV) August 11, 2025
Gordon, a rookie in 2025, made his MLB debut on May 14 after the Astros had to pivot from a starting rotation that was riddled with injuries. His first taste of the MLB was up-and-down, but he was able to finish with a 5-5 record, 5.27 ERA, and a 1.46 WHIP through 14 appearances.
The left-hander got things going in June. Through four starts in the month, Gordon had a 3-0 record, 2.14 ERA, and gave up just five runs.
With a pitching staff that has seen a return of Spencer Arrighetti and now Cristian Javier, the Astros are slowly getting back to their top potential as they look to push for a division title.