Preview: Astros at White Sox

[May 17, 2016]  SportsDirect Inc.
 
 Dallas Keuchel looks to find his 2015 Cy Young form again and snap a five-game winless streak when his Houston Astros visit the first-place Chicago White Sox on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series. Keuchel, who went 20-8 last season with a 2.48 ERA, surrendered 44 hits over 29 1/3 innings in his past five starts while losing four of them.

 

"It just seems like it's all piling on when I'm putting guys on base," Keuchel told reporters. "When I'm not putting guys on base, that's when I'm in charge. We'll figure some stuff out, but I've been feeling good. That's the most frustrating part." Houston's Jose Altuve takes an eight-game hitting streak into the series and faces Chicago's struggling left-hander Carlos Rodon, who is also winless in five contests. The White Sox (24-14) hold a comfortable lead in the American League Central despite losing four of their last five games. Keuchel will have to contain Melky Cabrera (7-for-20 in the last five contests, .305 overall) and Todd Frazier, who boasts five homers and 14 RBIs his past eight outings, as Chicago begins a 10-game homestand.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Houston), WPWR (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (2-5, 5.58 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Carlos Rodon (1-4, 4.99)

Keuchel, who makes his sixth start on the road, has given up four homers in the last two games and nine walks in the past three while permitting 26 runs during his winless stretch. The 28-year-old began the season with two quality starts in his first three appearances. Cabrera is 5-for-13 against Keuchel, who is 2-2 with a 2.30 ERA in four career games versus the White Sox.

Rodon allowed 22 runs (20 earned) over 26 2/3 innings his last five games after beginning the season with a pair of quality starts. The former No. 3 overall pick in 2014 gave up six runs and a season-high 12 hits last time out against Texas, but completed at least six innings for the sixth time in seven starts. The 23-year-old Rodon went 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA in two starts against Houston last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago SS Tyler Saladino is 7-for-16 with three RBIs in his last four appearances.

2. Houston RF George Springer owns three homers and nine RBIs over the last five games and SS Carlos Correa homered in two straight games.

3. The White Sox won five of six meetings last season and are 10-4 versus the Astros over the last 14 games.

PREDICTION: Astros 5, White Sox 2

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