DAT 6/17: CWS (Cease) at HOU (Urquidy) | 7:10 CT

After a 2-game sweep of the intrastate doormat Rangers, the Astros now turn their attention to a legitimate contender from the AL Central. Like the Padres in the NL, the White Sox, who have the best record in the AL, have lived up to preseason billing as an up-and-coming power with World Series aspirations.

The White Sox also share something in common with the Astros: Both employ dinosaurs in the managerial chair. Tony LaRussa is older (76) and possibly even more senile than Dusty Baker. These two longtime rival managers have had a few run-ins over the years so it will be interesting to see if either is awake to start something this weekend. LaRussa was referred to as a "genius" in his heyday, a tag he seemed to encourage the media to use. These days, his level of genius measurement is probably closer to another self-proclaimed genius.



For what it's worth, the Astros have won 9 of their last 12 against the ChiSox, though this is a much different Chicago team than the ones that had been flailing around the 2010s. The two teams did not meet last year when the White Sox finished 35-25. The Astros have only lost three series all year to teams with a winning record (7-3-1 in 11 series), and have won their last three series played against teams above .500. Time to make it four in a row, both in victories and series wins.