The Houston Astros have the No. 1 offense in MLB in runs per game and will look to continue their success when they meet the Chicago White Sox on Friday.
Chicago starter Carlos Rodon has a no-hitter to his credit this season and has been lights out with a 6-2 record and 1.89 ERA. Remarkably, he has been better on the road with the White Sox going 5-1 in his starts behind his 1.80 ERA with opponents batting average of .173.
The Astros have a rising star to match Rodon in Luis Garcia. He has a 2.10 ERA in home games with 10 strikeouts per nine innings compared to 1.8 walks.
For the White Sox, Nick Madrigal is done for the year and Yoan Monacada, who has a team-best .402 on base percentage, is dealing with an illness that caused him to the entire series with the Tampa Bay Rays.
With the Astros leading the majors in fewest strikeouts per game to go with their 5.5 runs per game, coupled with the White Sox being one of just six teams averaging less than a home run per game entering Thursday, the bats will tip the scales to Houston in this battle of rising star pitchers.
The play: Astros, -105.