In addition to a 6-1 win Saturday over the Chicago White Sox that squared the three-game series, the host Houston Astros could get an additional helping of good news along with a victory in the rubber match on Sunday afternoon.
Veteran right-hander Justin Verlander (neck discomfort) appears poised to return to the active roster after completing his second injury rehab start on Thursday.
Verlander, who landed on the injured list on June 16, is slated to throw a bullpen session at Minute Maid Park before the series finale against the White Sox.
Additionally, Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker faced live batting practice Saturday and appeared in prime form, bashing several pitches out of play. Tucker missed his 60th game with a right shin contusion, but the look of his batting stroke gave rise to his imminent return to action.
“That’s the one thing about the baseball activity that I think it comes more natural for him when you don’t really see anything bothering him,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “He (Tucker) swings the bat, he’s able to rotate, and he was hitting some balls out. It’s fun to watch.”
Left-hander Framber Valdez (12-5, 3.38 ERA) has the starting assignment Sunday for the Astros, who are 9-1 in their past 10 games.
He improved to 7-0 with a 2.68 ERA over his last nine starts after limiting the Tampa Bay Rays to one run on three hits and one walk with nine strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-1 victory Monday. Houston has won its last nine games with Valdez on the mound, and he has won four consecutive starts while posting a 2.36 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings.
Valdez is 3-2 with a 2.93 ERA over seven career appearances (six starts) against the White Sox. He suffered a 2-0 road loss to them on June 18 after he allowed two runs on two hits and five walks with five strikeouts over six innings.
Rookie left-hander Ky Bush (0-1, 5.19 ERA) will make his third career start for the White Sox in the series finale.
He did not factor into the decision of his previous start, a 12-2 win over the New York Yankees on Monday, after allowing two runs on six hits and seven walks with two strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. Bush was 7-4 with a 2.89 ERA over 18 appearances with Triple-A Charlotte and Double-A Birmingham before making his debut on Aug. 5 against Oakland.
Bush will make his first career appearance against the Astros.
The White Sox recalled Gus Varland, claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 2, from Triple-A Charlotte and claimed fellow right-hander Enyel De Los Santos off waivers from the Yankees on Saturday. Varland allowed one unearned run on two hits and one walk while recording three strikeouts in the eighth inning on Saturday.
The Chicago bullpen remains a work in progress. Given its prolonged collective struggles, it comes as no surprise that roles aren’t clearly defined as the final month of the season nears.
“We’re mixing and matching, and we don’t really have a true set of guys in certain roles,” White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore said. “Everyone is having to be asked to do a lot of different things. It’s a tough position to put those guys in, and they’ve all responded really well.
“We’re just going game to game with who’s available and who needs rest. We’ll play matchups and go from there.”
–Field Level Media
