The Houston Astros look to build upon the best record in
the American League when they visit the Chicago White Sox tonight to open a three-game series.
Houston (71-40) is coming off a series victory over the Toronto
Blue Jays and boasts a major-league-best 38-15 record on the road.
The Astros have scored more runs (656) and hit more home runs (182)
than any other team in baseball this season.
Meanwhile, Chicago (41-68) is in a freefall in the first year of
its long-term rebuilding project. The White Sox have lost six games
in a row and have posted a miserable 3-19 record since the All-Star
break.
Life will not get any easier for the White Sox as they face
Houston's ace.
Left-hander Dallas Keuchel (9-1, 2.15 ERA) will try to notch his
10th victory in his 14th start of the season. Keuchel, who has
reached double-digit victories on two occasions (2014, 2015), also
is going for career win No. 60.
In two starts since coming off the disabled list after recovering
from a neck ailment, Keuchel has shown signs of vulnerability. He
allowed a total of six earned runs in eight innings (6.75 ERA) over
the two outings, and he took his first loss of the season Wednesday
against the Tampa Bay Rays.
In five career starts against the White Sox, Keuchel is 2-2 with a
2.67 ERA. He has walked nine and struck out 30 in 33 2/3 innings.
White Sox left-hander Derek Holland (5-11, 5.27 ERA) is scheduled
to face the Astros in his 22nd start. The veteran started the
season well but has struggled along with the rest of the team in
recent months. He is 1-7 with an 8.65 ERA in 12 appearances (11
starts) since June 2, and he has lost each of his past five
decisions.
Holland is familiar with Astros' hitters from his years in the AL
West as a member of the Texas Rangers' rotation. In 13 starts
against Houston, he is 5-3 with a 4.50 ERA. He has allowed an
average of one home run per outing.
The Astros might welcome back injured outfielder George Springer,
who has been on the 10-day disabled list because of discomfort in
his left quadriceps. The team plans to determine before the Tuesday
game whether he is ready to return. Springer is hitting .310 with
27 home runs and 66 RBIs in 93 games.
"I've been doing everything you can think of (to rehab)," Springer
said to the Houston Chronicle when asked about a possible return in
Chicago. "There's a lot I have to continue to do, and we'll see
what happens."
Meanwhile, the White Sox will wait and see whether third
baseman/designated hitter Matt Davidson is ready to return.
Davidson, who leads the team with 22 home runs, has missed five
games in a row because of a bruised right wrist that he sustained
when he was hit by a pitch from Blue Jays right-hander Marcus
Stroman.
White Sox manager Rick Renteria said his players should not put
their heads down amid a long losing streak.
"We're playing some really good clubs," Renteria said to MLB.com.
"We're going to go out there every single day to hopefully play
clean baseball on every side of the ball, on the bases, in the
field and with the stick. Hopefully we'll continue to play a little
better baseball."
Tonight's game can be heard on Good Time Oldies 1060 with the Pre-Game Show at 6:35.
