Astros at White Sox
Dallas Keuchel looks to rebound from his first loss of the season as the American League-best Houston Astros begin an eight-game road trip on Tuesday with the first of three contests against the struggling Chicago White Sox. The 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner has authored two lackluster starts since returning following an eight-week absence with a pinched nerve in his neck.
Alex Bregman ripped a tying two-run triple and scored on an RBI single from Juan Centeno to cap a wild four-run rally in the ninth inning of Houston's 7-6 victory over Toronto on Sunday. Bregman has three homers among his eight extra-base hits, 10 RBIs and eight runs scored during his nine-game hitting streak, although he just 1-for-6 against Tuesday starter Derek Holland. While the ascending Astros' postseason ticket is all but punched, the White Sox have dropped six in a row and 23 of 27 contests since July 4 to plummet into the basement of the AL. Chicago could receive a much-needed jolt in the opener of its six-game homestand with the potential return of Avisail Garcia, who has missed 12 games with a strained right thumb.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (9-1, 2.15 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Derek Holland (5-11, 5.27)
Keuchel surrendered a homer and allowed three runs total in his second straight start on Wednesday, as he worked five innings in a 3-0 setback to Tampa Bay. Although the 29-year-old struck out a season-low two batters, he kept his spirits up despite seeing his 11-game winning streak come to a halt. "I felt good, so that's the main thing," Keuchel told reporters. "Some tough luck. ... I didn't do myself any good with getting into some hitters counts early."
While Keuchel is dealing with his first loss, Holland is 0-5 in his last nine outings since recording his last win on June 13. The 30-year-old has permitted 50 earned runs and 18 homers in his last 11 starts (51 2/3 innings), and is coming off a three-pitch relief appearance at Boston on Saturday. Holland owns a 5-3 mark with a 4.50 ERA in 13 career starts against the Astros, although he is 0-2 with a 6.67 ERA in five starts at Minute Maid Park.
WALK-OFFS
1. Houston RF Josh Reddick has hit safely in 11 consecutive starts, recording two homers and 10 RBIs in that span.
2. Chicago 2B Yolmer Sanchez carries a four-game hitting streak into Tuesday's tilt versus Keuchel, against whom he is 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
3. Centeno, who was recalled from Triple-A Fresno on Saturday, is 5-for-11 with three RBIs in three games with the Astros.