JUNE 20, 2022 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM
HOUSTON ASTROS 88-73 · 1ST IN AL WEST
88-73 · 1ST IN AL WEST
Michael Kopech feels 'no pain' in his return, but 2 homers power the Houston Astros past the Chicago White Sox Chicago White Sox starter Michael Kopech allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings after leaving his last start June 12 after two-thir...
J.J. Matijevic - First career hit leaves yard Matijevic went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-3 win over the White Sox.
Impact Making his first start in his most recent big-league stint, Matijevic launched a solo shot to left field Sunday. It was his first hit in the majors. He's still struck out five times across 11 plate appearances, so the 26-year-old is unlikely to take on a regular role until he can show more in limited playing time. He's proved himself well in the minors, slashing .313/.373/.640 with 12 homers and eight stolen bases in 39 games with Triple-A Sugar Land this season.
JUNE 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Mauricio Dubón - Blasts two-run homer Dubon went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run and a walk in Sunday's 4-3 win over the White Sox.
Impact Dubon's fifth-inning blast ultimately gave the Astros just enough offense for the win. The utility man has gone 5-for-18 (.278) in June. He's in line for extra playing time as long as Jeremy Pena (thumb) and Aledmys Diaz (shoulder) are sidelined. Dubon is slashing .232/.258/.378 with three home runs, 12 RBI, 14 runs scored and a stolen base in 38 contests between the Astros and the Giants this season.
JUNE 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Ryan Pressly - Locks down save Pressly walked one and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the White Sox.
Impact Hector Neris allowed the White Sox to get within a run in the eighth inning, but Pressly was able to close the door in the ninth for his 13th save in 15 chances. This was Pressly's fourth straight scoreless outing after he allowed runs in each of his first two appearances in June. The 33-year-old has a 2.55 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB through 17.2 innings overall.
JUNE 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Cristian Javier - Slightly wild in win Javier (4-3) earned the win Sunday over the White Sox. He allowed a run on two hits, four walks and a hit batter with five strikeouts in five innings.
Impact Javier kept the White Sox off the board until Luis Robert hit an RBI double in the fifth inning. The right-hander wasn't particularly efficient, needing 93 pitches (58 strikes) to complete five frames, but it was enough for his first win in his last four starts. Javier has a 3.07 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 68:23 K:BB across 55.2 innings overall. He has a tough matchup on tap next weekend, as he's expected to draw a road start versus the Yankees.
JUNE 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Matijevic homers for 1st MLB hit, Astros beat White Sox 4-3
Rookie JJUNE 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Yordan Alvarez - Tending to hand injury Astros manager Dusty Baker acknowledged that Alvarez is being held out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox due to a hand injury, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chro...
Impact Baker didn't say whether the injury is to Alvarez's throwing (right) hand or the opposite one, but the skipper noted that the team doesn't believe it's a serious concern. With Alvarez on the bench for the series finale, J.J. Matijevic will start at designated hitter and bat sixth.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Martín Maldonado - Not starting Sunday Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact Maldonado started the past three games and will receive a day off after going 2-for-9 with a home run, a double and three RBI. Jason Castro will work behind the plate in Sunday's series finale.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jose Siri - Steps out of lineup Siri is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact The Astros have rotated their center fielders heavily over the past couple weeks, with no single player making consecutive starts over the past eight games. Siri is 1-for-21 across his last nine contests, so he should continue to split time in center with Chas McCormick and Mauricio Dubon. It's McCormick who will start Sunday's contest and bat seventh.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Aledmys Díaz - Held out of Sunday's lineup Diaz (shoulder) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact Diaz was removed from Saturday's game with left shoulder discomfort and will be sidelined for at least one contest. Mauricio Dubon will take over at shortstop for the Astros for the series finale versus Chicago. According to Rome, Diaz said he needs to meet with a doctor before a determination is made on whether he'll require an MRI, so the 31-year-old doesn't seem likely to be available off the bench Sunday.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Yordan Alvarez - Sitting with undisclosed injury Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox due to an unspecified injury, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact The 24-year-old was removed from Saturday's contest after suffering the injury on a swing during the seventh inning, though the specifics of the issue remain unclear. Alvarez will be sidelined for at least one game, and he'll have the benefit of additional rest Monday since the Astros have a scheduled off day. J.J. Matijevic will bat sixth as the designated hitter Sunday for Houston.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
White Sox vs. Astros prediction, betting odds for MLB on Sunday The Houston Astros lock horns with the Chicago White Sox in MLB on Sunday. This preview is based on 10,000 simulations of the game.
JUNE 19, 2022 • PENNLIVE.COM
Astros and White Sox play to decide series winner
The Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox play on Sunday with the winner claiming the three-game seriesJUNE 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Héctor Neris - Clean inning in return Neris (suspension) struck out one in a perfect inning during Saturday's 7-0 loss to the White Sox.
Impact Neris completed a three-game suspension Friday and rejoined the Astros' bullpen for Saturday's game. He's allowed six runs across five innings in June, picking up two holds, a loss and a blown save. The 33-year-old has a 3.62 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 30:6 K:BB while adding 12 holds in 30 appearances as a veteran high-leverage arm.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Justin Verlander - Unusually shaky in loss Verlander (8-3) allowed seven runs (four earned) on nine hits and no walks while striking out three over 3.2 innings, taking the loss Saturday versus the White Sox.
Impact Errors have tarnished his line in each of the last two starts, but Verlander simply wasn't that effective Saturday in his shortest outing of the year. The White Sox rallied in the third and fourth innings to knock him from the contest. The veteran right-hander saw his ERA jump from 1.94 to 2.30 with a 0.89 WHIP and 81:15 K:BB across 82.1 innings in 13 starts this year. Considering how few his bad starts have been, we'll assume this was a minor speed bump in his season. Verlander is projected for a tough road start versus the Yankees next week.
JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Roughed up in 3 2/3 IP, Verlander offers no excuses HOUSTON -- Astros pitcher Justin Verlander wasn’t in the mood to make excuses, and who could blame him? The White Sox batted around for a to...
JUNE 19, 2022 • MLB.COM
'Pitching at its finest': Johnny Cueto shuts down a potent Houston Astros offense in a 7-0 Chicago White Sox win Johnny Cueto allowed two hits in seven innings, pitching the Chicago White Sox to a 7-0 victory against the Houston Astros.
JUNE 19, 2022 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM
Paul Sullivan: Tony La Russa vs. Dusty Baker is a rivalry that never grows old as the managers square off again CHICAGO — Baseball’s best rivalry grabs the national spotlight Sunday night when the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros meet in the finale...
JUNE 19, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Cueto, López combine for 3-hitter as Chisox down Astros 7-0
Johnny Cueto and Reynaldo López combined for a three-hitter and Luis Robert tied a career-high with four RBIs as the Chicago White Sox jumped on Justin Verlander early and cruised...JUNE 18, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Aledmys Díaz - Leaves with shoulder injury Diaz exited Saturday's game against the White Sox with left shoulder discomfort, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact Diaz went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before being replaced at shortstop by Mauricio Dubon. With Jeremy Pena (thumb) also out, Dubon could see an expanded role at shortstop if Diaz is forced to miss time, though Diaz is merely considered day-to-day for now.
JUNE 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jake Meyers - May need more time in minors Meyers (shoulder) may not join the active roster once his rehab assignment runs out next week but could remain in the minors instead, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle repor...
Impact Meyers played regularly down the stretch last season, hitting .260/.323/.438 in 49 games. He's been out all year while recovering from November shoulder surgery, and he hasn't looked particularly good through his first 10 rehab games for Triple-A Sugar Land, hitting .229/.317/.343. It's possible he'll be optioned once his rehab assignment ends and will remain in Triple-A until he proves he's ready to return to the majors.
JUNE 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Héctor Neris - Available Saturday Neris is available out of the Astros' bullpen for Saturday's game against the White Sox after serving his three-game suspension, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact Neris was unavailable for the last three games after MLB determined that he intentionally threw at the Mariners' Eugenio Suarez on June 7. Over five appearances since the start of June, the right-hander picked up two holds while giving up six runs in four innings.
JUNE 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
White Sox vs. Astros prediction, betting odds for MLB on Saturday The Houston Astros square off with the Chicago White Sox in MLB on Saturday. This preview is based on 10K simulations of the game.
JUNE 18, 2022 • PENNLIVE.COM
Jake Odorizzi - Increasing fielding intensity Odorizzi (leg) continues to throw bullpen sessions and is fielding at increased intensity, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact Odorizzi has been throwing bullpens consistently since late May, though the last step in his recovery appears to be his ability to field the position at full speed. With his activity ramping up further, Odorizzi is nearing a rehab assignment, and he could be in line for a return in late June or early July.
JUNE 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
