Chicago @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 5, 2018 ) Chi. White Sox 3, Houston 4

The Houston Astros staged a dramatic comeback victory in the series opener and look to improve to 5-0 in the season set when they host the Chicago White Sox on Friday for the second of four contests. Yuli Gurriel's run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth inning capped a two-run uprising as the Astros posted a 4-3 victory on Thursday.

George Springer delivered the game-tying single in the ninth and Jose Altuve hit a two-run homer in the fifth as the Astros won their third straight contest. Springer's key hit leaves him 6-for-70 over his last 19 games while the RBI was just his second during the lengthy slump. Chicago's Avisail Garcia was hitless in four at-bats in the opener to halt his 14-game hitting streak that was the longest current one in the majors. The White Sox have dropped six of their last eight contests and 15 of their last 21.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (4-5, 3.68 ERA) vs. Astros RH Lance McCullers Jr. (9-3, 3.55)

Lopez has won back-to-back starts and three of his last four decisions. The 24-year-old was victorious at Texas in his last outing - giving up two runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings - and is 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA in his last four turns on the road. Lopez allowed one run and four hits in five innings on April 22 in his lone career start against the Astros.

McCullers, who has won three straight decisions, blanked Tampa Bay on three hits over seven innings of a 1-0 win in his last turn. The 24-year-old has struck out 25 batters in 19 frames over his last three starts and 106 in 101 1/3 overall innings. McCullers beat Chicago on April 22, when he yielded one run and eight hits over six frames, and is 1-1 with a 2.60 ERA in three career meetings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros 3B Alex Bregman is 17-for-41 with five homers during his 10-game hitting streak.

2. Chicago SS Tim Anderson (forearm) will be re-evaluated on Friday after being hit by a pitch in the series opener.

3. Houston SS Carlos Correa (back) won't come off the disabled list during this series but should be activated sometime next week.

PREDICTION: Astros 5, White Sox 2