The Astros look to complete the sweep Sunday afternoon against the White Sox at Rate Field. Ronel Blanco takes the mound for his second start of the season against White Sox right-hander Erick Fedde. First pitch is at 1:10 PM CT, and the Astros are riding a five game winning streak heading into it.
Blanco returned from Tommy John surgery on July 20 against the Marlins, making his first big league appearance since May 2025. He posted a 1.06 ERA in 17 innings across five minor league rehab outings before being activated, per MLB. He struck out eight batters in 4.2 innings in his debut, allowing four runs on two hits and three walks. A mixed performance for his return, but the foundation was clearly there.
It has been a long road back, but the Astros have been patient, and it looks like that patience is starting to pay off.
This start matters more than just one game. The Astros rotation has been one of the biggest storylines of the season for all the wrong reasons. Between injuries, inconsistency, and the McCullers trade, they have been scrambling all year. Peter Lambert has been outstanding and Hunter Brown was brilliant Saturday, but the rotation needs more. Adding a healthy Blanco gives Houston some serious depth. If he can give them five or six solid innings Sunday, it takes pressure off a bullpen that has been leaned on heavily this week.
On the other side, Erick Fedde will take the mound for Chicago. He is currently 5-6 with a 4.16 ERA, per MLB. A solid but very beatable matchup for an Astros offense that has been clicking on all cylinders lately. Yordan Alvarez leads the majors in home runs, Jeremy Peña is on a seven game hitting streak, and Isaac Paredes has been coming through in the clutch all week. The Astros have the lineup to win this game.
A sweep would give the Astros six straight wins, a new season high winning streak, and would keep them right in the thick of the AL West race heading into the final stretch.
Blanco's second start is another big test. All eyes will be on him Sunday afternoon. If he looks like himself, this Astros rotation suddenly looks a lot more dangerous.
