The Astros finally climbed back above .500 Sunday. Their reward is four games against another first-place team.
Houston returns to Daikin Park on Monday at 69-68 after taking two of three from the Mets in New York. The Astros lead the AL West by two games over Texas, while the White Sox arrive in Houston at 72-64 and atop the AL Central. Chicago has a plus-44 run differential; Houston, despite occupying first place, has been outscored by 40-plus runs this season.
That makes this more than the beginning of another homestand. September begins Tuesday, the Astros have 25 games remaining, and the division remains close enough that every series can alter the race.
Houston Comes Home With a Series Win
The Astros’ pitching situation made the weekend in New York look precarious before it began, but they managed to leave with two wins. Hunter Brown struck out 10 over 6⅔ innings Friday, Saturday’s pitching plan fell apart in a 6-2 loss, and Ethan Pecko recovered from back-to-back first-inning home runs Sunday to give Houston five innings in a 6-3 victory.
That left the Astros at 69-68 and back above .500. More importantly, they survived another road series without surrendering first place despite the continued uncertainty surrounding their rotation.
There is still little room for comfort. Houston has spent much of the season alternating between stretches that suggest a contender and stretches that make its position atop the AL West difficult to explain. The White Sox aren’t arriving as an easy opponent on which Houston can repair those inconsistencies.
The White Sox Bring Another Division Leader to Houston
Chicago is 72-64 and leads the AL Central by 3½ games over Cleveland. The White Sox had a four-game winning streak snapped Sunday in a 5-1 loss to Minnesota, but they still won two of three against the Twins after taking their final two games against Texas.
Their offense has been productive despite a .238 team batting average. Chicago has scored 652 runs and hit 180 home runs this season, while Houston enters the series with 624 runs and 182 homers.
Miguel Vargas leads Chicago with 29 home runs and 76 RBI. The White Sox have also received significant production throughout a lineup that has helped them build a 72-64 record and a plus-44 run differential.
This is the second series between the teams this season. Houston took two of three in Chicago from July 24-26, winning the first two games 9-5 and 4-1 before the White Sox answered with a 12-3 victory in the finale.
Peter Lambert Gets the Opener
Peter Lambert will start Monday’s series opener for Houston against White Sox left-hander Anthony Kay.
Lambert enters at 8-7 with a 3.66 ERA and will make his 24th start. Kay is 9-6 with a 4.09 ERA after allowing four earned runs over 4⅔ innings against Texas in his most recent outing.
For Houston, another solid start would continue something the Astros desperately need. Brown gave them length Friday, Pecko supplied five useful innings Sunday, and the bullpen worked four scoreless innings behind him. After weeks of uncertainty surrounding the rotation, even a modest stretch of conventional starts would be welcome.
Houston has not announced a starter for Tuesday. Mike Burrows is eligible to return from the injured list when rosters expand September 1, and Joe Espada said Burrows is “definitely in the conversation” for that start after posting a 2.03 ERA across 13⅓ innings in three Triple-A rehab appearances. Hayden Wesneski and Hunter Brown are scheduled to start the final two games of the series.
Yordan’s Triple Crown Chase Enters September
Yordan Alvarez enters the series with 37 home runs and 93 RBI after going 0-for-5 Sunday. His batting average fell from .320 to .317, adding more pressure to a Triple Crown race that already offered little margin in the home run and RBI categories. His season slash line now stands at .317/.432/.607.
The Astros, however, received an encouraging reminder Sunday that they can win without Alvarez carrying the offense. Jeremy Peña homered and drove in two runs, Nick Allen went 3-for-4, and LaMonte Wade Jr. came off the bench to hit the go-ahead two-run homer.
They will need more of that in September. Alvarez can lead the Triple Crown chase, but Houston’s attempt to hold off Texas cannot depend upon one hitter doing everything.
The AL West Leaves No Room to Coast
Houston enters Monday two games ahead of Texas in the AL West. The Rangers remain close enough that a bad series can change the complexion of the race quickly, and the schedules aren’t offering the two contenders equal degrees of difficulty this week.
While Houston opens four games against the AL Central-leading White Sox, Texas begins a three-game series at Globe Life Field against the 53-84 Athletics. Jacob deGrom is scheduled to start Monday’s opener for the Rangers against A’s left-hander Gage Jump.
Houston has been remarkably effective against winning teams this season, which may be useful considering what awaits. But with the Rangers facing a last-place opponent while the Astros get another division leader, Houston cannot count on much help from the schedule.
For all the frustration of a season spent hovering around .500, the Astros reach the final 25 games exactly where they have somehow remained for much of the summer: in first place. Now they have to stay there.
Monday’s opener begins at 7:10 p.m. CT at Daikin Park. Lambert (8-7, 3.66 ERA) is scheduled to start for Houston against Kay (9-6, 4.09 ERA), with the game televised on Space City Home Network.
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