It’s the opening game of a weekend series between a pair of teams from the American League on the diamond in the south side of the Windy City. The Houston Astros are on the road as they kick off a three-game set with the Chicago White Sox Friday night. Houston took two of three on the road from the Angels as they won the rubber game of the set 5-4 Wednesday afternoon in their most recent contest. Chicago was on the road to close out a four-game series with the Royals Thursday afternoon. The White Sox were looking for a split as they were drubbed 9-1 in the third game of the series Wednesday night. These teams split four games in the opening series this season, which took place at Minute Maid Park March 30-April 2.
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Houston had dropped five of six before taking the final two games of their series on the road against the Angels after Wednesday’s win. The Astros entered Thursday 19-18 and stood third in the AL West, 3.5 games behind the Rangers for the top spot in the race. On Wednesday, Houston finished the game with eight hits as Jeremy Pena (two RBI) was the lone player with two. The Astros broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning and hung on for the win after giving up a two-run homer in the ninth. Yordan Alvarez hit his eighth homer in the victory for the Astros. Cristian Javier (3-1) earned the win on the mound as he threw six innings, allowing two runs on three hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts. Ryan Pressly earned the save despite allowing two runs on four hits with no walks and one strikeout in the ninth inning, giving him his sixth of the year.
J.P. France is on the mound for the Astr os as he makes his second major league start in this contest. He comes in with no record, a 0.00 ERA, a 0.80 WHIP, one walk and five strikeouts on the year. France didn’t factor in the decision in his major league debut, which came on the road against the Mariners Saturday. He threw five scoreless innings, allowing three hits with one walk and five strikeouts in a game the Astros eventually lost 7-5. In his second career major league start, France pitches against the White Sox for the first time here. As a result, this marks his first career outing at Guaranteed Rate Field as well. Prior to his recall, France was 2-1 with a 2.33 ERA, a 1.034 WHIP, 11 walks and 26 strikeouts over 19.1 innings in five appearances, three starts, with Triple-A Sugar Land of the Pacific Coast League.