The Houston Astros know they need starting pitching to push forward in their pursuit of the American League West, and they have their eyes set on Dylan Cease.

San Diego Padres right-hander Dylan Cease is "at the top" of the Houston Astros' wish list heading into Thursday's trade deadline, Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome reported Tuesday for The Athletic.

Last week, Buster Olney of ESPN reported the Padres were making Cease available in trade talks with rival teams. Joel Sherman of the New York Post subsequently identified six teams that have inquired about Cease: the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets and Chicago Cubs.