Astros' Brown hopes to add starting pitcher at deadline

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown is looking at acquiring a starting pitcher ahead of the July 30 trade deadline to help bolster his club's battered rotation.

Justin Verlander, Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, José Urquidy, and Lance McCullers Jr. have missed most or all of the Astros' season thus far due to injury.

"We're gonna do whatever we gotta do," Brown told Brian LaLima of SportsTalk 790. "It takes two sides, but it has to make sense for the club. If not, we'll ask one of these young kids to step up."

The Astros are currently rolling with a four-man rotation of Ronel Blanco, Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, and Spencer Arrighetti. Right-hander Jake Bloss is expected to return from a shoulder injury and start Thursday's game against the Miami Marlins.

The Astros have climbed back into postseason contention after struggling through the first few months of the campaign. Houston owns a 47-44 record and trails the Seattle Mariners by two games for first place in the AL West.