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Even with a loss on Sunday, the Houston Astros capped their first winning road trip of the season. Now, riding the momentum that vaulted them into first place in the American League West, the Astros return home for a three-game set against the Chicago White Sox that kicks off Tuesday.

Houston went 4-2 during a six-game road trip to Pittsburgh and Cleveland, a clear departure from their early-season struggles when they scuffled on the road.

The loss in the series finale against the Guardians did little to dampen the spirits of a club that has won 11 of 16 since dropping consecutive road contests against the Tampa Bay Rays late last month.

“Another series win on the road,” Astros manager Joe Espada said.

Right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (1-1, 4.44 ERA) is scheduled to start the series opener for the Astros on Tuesday. Shelled by the Cincinnati Reds on May 10 in his second start of the season, and just his second appearance after missing the previous two-plus seasons due to injury, McCullers is 1-0 with a 2.21 ERA and 29 strikeouts in four starts since — all Astros wins.

McCullers notched his first regular-season victory since Sept. 21, 2022, in his previous outing against the Pirates when he surrendered two hits and one walk while fanning seven over six scoreless innings in a 3-0 win on June 3.

McCullers is 4-1 with a 1.98 ERA in seven career starts against the White Sox. He made his season debut against the White Sox on May 4 and allowed three hits with four strikeouts over 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He did not factor into the decision of a 5-4 road loss.

Rookie right-hander Shane Smith (2-3, 2.45 ERA) has the starting assignment for the White Sox. His ERA is the ninth-lowest in club history by a pitcher in his first 12 career starts.

Smith snapped a six-start winless streak against the Detroit Tigers on June 3 when he worked 5 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out six in an 8-1 victory. He was 0-2 with a 3.03 ERA over his previous six starts, with Chicago going 1-5 in those games. Smith, who made his major league debut on April 1, leads the White Sox with a 1.7 bWAR.

Smith will make his first career appearance against the Astros and his second against an AL West opponent after allowing three runs on two hits and two walks with six strikeouts over five innings against the Seattle Mariners on May 21. Again, though, he did not factor into the decision of a 6-5 loss.

The White Sox had their season-high-tying three-game winning streak snapped with a 7-5 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Despite the loss to the Royals, their 25th this season by one or two runs, the White Sox continue to show signs of resilience. Chicago trailed by five runs entering the ninth inning on Sunday and fashioned a threat of rallying for a three-game sweep against the Royals.

“Another example of them continuing to fight,” White Sox manager Will Venable said.

–Field Level Media