Chicago @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2018 ) Chi. White Sox 6, Houston 12

As great as the disparity is between the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox in the win column, the gap between them when they have played each other this season has been even larger. The Astros attempt to complete a dominant season sweep of the White Sox on Sunday when they host the finale of a four-game set.

Houston (60-31) has made a mockery of Chicago (30-59) in six meetings this season, winning five by at least six runs and scoring 10 runs in four of those contests. Alex Bregman and Yuli Gurriel combined to go 5-for-9 with two homers, seven RBIs and five runs scored in Saturday's 12-6 victory, increasing the Astros' scoring margin over the White Sox in the season series to 54-15. Houston's fifth win in a row overall allowed it to expand its lead in the American League West to 3 1/2 games over Seattle and join Boston as the only 60-win teams in the majors. Chicago has dropped four in a row and eight of 10, but Avisail Garcia has been one of the team's few bright spots lately with eight home runs in his last 12 games - including a majors-best five in July.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, AT&T SportsNet - Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (5-7, 6.93 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (5-8, 4.12)

Giolito surrendered two two-run shots before recording an out - and three homers in all - among the seven runs and eight hits he allowed over five innings in Tuesday's loss at Cincinnati. The 23-year-old, who has surrendered seven of his 16 home runs over his last four turns, has as many walks this season as strikeouts (54) over 89 2/3 frames. Giolito suffered through perhaps the worst outing of his 33-start major-league career April 21 against Houston, giving up nine runs on five hits and seven walks across only two innings.

Keuchel posted his third quality start in four tries to get the win Tuesday at Texas, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out seven over as many innings. Despite getting tagged for six runs across 5 1/3 frames in his previous outing, the 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner is 2-0 with a 2.96 ERA over his last four trips to the mound. Jose Abreu is 7-for-18 with two homers against Keuchel, who is 3-4 with a 3.81 ERA in eight starts versus Chicago.

WALK-OFFS

1. Gurriel (.432) and Bregman (.384) went a combined 3-for-4 with runners in scoring position on Saturday. The duo ranks first and second, respectively, in the AL in such situations this season.

2. Chicago has clubbed 14 homers in its last eight contests. Garcia and OF Daniel Palka have combined to hit nine of the last 12.

3. Houston owns a team batting average of .339 against the White Sox this season.

PREDICTION: Astros 11, White Sox 3