MLBTRs team-by-team look at the upcoming deadline continues with the Astros. They're yet again in pole position in the AL West. Payroll might be an obstacle this summer, but they're in a familiar position as a deadline buyer. Record: 45-33 (89.6% playoff probability, per ) Buy Mode Potential needs: Left-handed bat, rotation depth, second base Dana Brown gave us an easy starting point for the Astros' deadline outlook. Houston's general manager said over the weekend that the front office is already scouring the market for a . That would have been easy enough to infer from a look at the roster. The Astros have the most right-handed lineup in recent history. They've given more than 2500 plate appearances to righty hitters this season (not including switch-hitters against lefty pitching). The second-place Angels are more than 400 PAs behind Houston, and no other team has even reached 1900. They Josh Simpson Jersey 're on pace to surpa s the 2022 Blue Jays for the most plate appearances for right-handed batters in a season this century. The flip side, of course, is that they've given a staggeringly low 175 plate appearances to pure left-handed hitters. is their only switch-hitter of note. should be back at some point, but he's coming up on two months since he fractured his right hand. Opponents have unsurprisingly thrown more right-handed pitchers at Houston than at any other. It hasn't stopped them from having succe s so far, but they'll obviously prefer to have more balance as they look ahead to potential playoff series. Unlock Subscriber-Exclusive Articles Like This One With a Trade Rumors Front Office Subscription BENEFITS Acce s weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco. Join exclusive weekly live chats with Anthony. Remove ads and support our writers. Acce s GM-caliber tools like our MLB Contract Tracker Victor Mesa Jersey