The Houston Astros are coming off back-to-back series wins as they kick off a series against the White Sox at home in Daikin Park.
The Astros are barely sitting above .500, and Chicago will be looking to add to their AL Central cushion.
Chicago White Sox @ Houston Astros
7:10 PM CT Daikin Park
Chicago enters at 72-64 (.529), leading the AL Central by three games, while Houston is at 69-68 (.504), still holding the top spot in the AL West with Texas just two games back.
Here is a look at Monday nights pitching match up:
Anthony Kay (9-6, 4.09 ERA, 108 SO) takes the mound for the White Sox. He's been solid for most of the season, but he's hit a rough patch lately, going 0-2, after a really solid stretch before.
Peter Lambert (8-7, 3.66 ERA, 125 SO) takes the mound for Houston. He's been the rotation's most reliable arm most of the year, but he's coming off a rocky stretch, a disaster start against the Angels where he allowed nine runs, followed by a much better outing against the Yankees. The Astros need him to build on that rebound tonight.
Here's a look at both lineups for Monday night:
Astros:
- Jeremy Peña (R) SS
- Yordan Alvarez (L) DH
- Isaac Paredes (R) 3B
- Christian Walker (R) 1B
- Daulton Varsho (L) CF
- Cam Smith (R) RF
- Nelson Velázquez (R) LF
- Nick Allen (R) 2B
- Christian Vázquez (R) C
White Sox:
- Sam Antonacci (L) LF
- Munetaka Murakami (L) 1B
- Miguel Vargas (R) 3B
- Andrew Benintendi (L) DH
- Braden Montgomery (S) RF
- Colson Montgomery (L) SS
- Chase Meidroth (R) 2B
- Tristan Peters (L) CF
- Jake Rogers (R) C
The Houston Astros have already faced the Chicago White Sox this season at Rate Field. Houston took a big loss, 12-3 in the final game of the series. The Astros are 33-35 at home, and the White Sox are 31-37 on the road. Houston is holding on tight to the division lead, and it's crucial that they don't let this series slip away. If Peter Lambert can shake off his last few rough starts, the Astros should be in good hands on the hill.
This four-game series gives the Astros a chance to get a head start if they can set the tone early. Three back-to-back series victories would be a serious shift for a team that is constantly up and down back and forth.
