After a rocky start to the season, one Astros reliever could find himself on the trading block before the Aug. 3 deadline.

Both trajectories beg context. Houston is 27-34 following its 2-0 loss Sunday to Jacob Misiorowski and the Brewers. Imai followed a rain-shortened start at Minnesota with six hitless innings against a short-handed Texas lineup in which Astros coaches acknowledged his execution was not as sharp.

The Houston Astros are getting closer to reintegrating familiar faces into their pitching depth, based on these important updates.

The Houston Astros (27-33), who are 8-3 in their last 11 games, will play the rubber game of their three-game series today opposite the NL Central division leading Milwaukee Brewers (34-21). RHP Tatsuya Imai (2-2,

Manager Joe Espada discusses facing Misiorowski, making adjustments and more following the Astros' 2-0 loss to the Brewers

The Houston Astros saw a little more from their injured right-hander and what they saw looked good.

The scoreless outing was the fifth in six May starts for the second-year flamethrower, who finished the month having allowed just one run in 38 1/3 innings pitched. Misiorowski’s shutout gem lowered his ERA to 1.65 and keeps him near the top of the early-season Cy Young race in the National League.

The Astros could be close to getting closer Josh Hader back and second baseman Jose Altuve might not be too far behind. Manager Joe Espada said Sunday it “is very possible” that Hader could return during the Pirates series,