The Houston Astros have their A lineup out today. They face the White Sox Lucas Giolito with a 4-4 record and 5.86 ERA at home this season. His last two home starts have been decent but they were against the Tigers and Royals where he still gave up a total of six earned runs. The White Sox are a bottom 10 team in OPS with a .684 against righties. The Astros have seen some regression post All-Star break but are still a top 10 team in OPS this season with a .730. Luis Garcia has been a little shaky on the road of recent, giving up eight earned runs in his last two starts. But, he finds himself a favorable matchup against this White Sox lineup. Take the Astros.

I consider the starting pitching matchup between Luis Garcia and Lucas Giolito largely a wash -- Garcia has been much better on the road, but Giolito has better stuff and can dominate. He also tends to implode at times and has a 5.86 ERA at home. This is all about lineups, and Houston's is far superior today -- especially with Christian Vazquez at catcher over automatic out Martin Maldonado. Frankly, it's the Astros' best possible lineup. The Sox are again starting the likes of Seby Zavala and Romy (and Michele's High School Reunion) Gonzalez at shortstop. Romy Gonzalez is not a big-league player -- why Chicago reportedly is going to sign recently released A's shortstop Elvis Andrus. Yasmani Grandal also sitting today for the Pale Hose. This has been a highly entertaining series.