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Game No. 51 Preview: Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox

The Astros look for the series win with former AL Central regular Roberto Hernandez on the mound against the White Sox.

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Houston Astros (31-19) vs. Chicago White Sox (22-26), May 31, 2015 1:10 PM CDT

TV: Roots Sports SW, MLB.TV 
Radio: KBME 790 AM, KLAT 1010 AM
White Sox SBNation BlogSouth Side Sox

Pitching matchup

RHP Roberto Hernandez (2-3, 4.77 ERA, 1.35 WHIP) vs. LHP John Danks (2-4, 5.69 ERA, 1.45 WHIP)

Preview

Dallas Keuchel stopped the bleeding for the Astros on Saturday, pitching a complete game shutout in the Astros' 3-0 win. Houston now turns to long time member of the American league Central and former Indian Roberto Hernandez against the White Sox. Hernandez is coming off his worst start of the season, giving up seven runs on nine hits over five innings against the Tigers on May 24.

Hernandez current stance with the team as a starter may have hinged on his performances in the next couple of starts. The Astros have plenty of arms sniffing around the rotation - Brett Oberholtzer, Dan Straily, and Asher Wojokowski. But the loss of Scott Feldman until after the All-Star break may have stayed his execution from the Astros roster.

Looking at the notes from the series preview:

Roberto Hernandez's hold on a rotation spot is slipping from his grasp. He has allowed four or more runs in three of his last five starts. Hernandez allowed seven runs over five innings in his last start, May 24 against the Tigers. He is 9-6 with a 5.60 ERA in 19 starts against the White Sox in his career.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX CAREER STATISTICS VS. ROBERTO HERNANDEZ
BATTER AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
Melky Cabrera"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Melky Cabrera 25 9 2 0 1 4 4 3 0.360 0.448 0.560 1.008
Alexei Ramirez 24 6 1 0 1 4 0 5 0.250 0.333 0.417 0.750
Gordon Beckham"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Gordon Beckham 15 5 2 0 0 1 4 1 0.333 0.474 0.467 0.940
Emilio Bonifacio 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.111 0.111 0.111 0.222
Conor Gillaspie"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Conor Gillaspie 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0.333 0.333 1.333 1.667
Adam LaRoche"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Adam LaRoche 7 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.143 0.250 0.143 0.393
J.B. Shuck"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">J.B. Shuck 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.500
Rob Brantly"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Rob Brantly 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Adam Eaton"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Adam Eaton 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Tyler Flowers 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0.000 0.400 0.000 0.400
Geovany Soto 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.000 1.000 0.000 1.000

John Danks, Austin native, is no longer playing with younger brother Jordan Danks (who was cut this offseason). Danks still has found his lane for success in his nine-year major league career, he has allowed 31 runs through 49 innings. He has given up 11 runs over his last 10 1/3 innings. Danks is 0-3 with a 9.15 ERA in four starts against the Astros.

HOUSTON ASTROS CAREER STATISTICS VS. JOHN DANKS
BATTER AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
Matt Dominguez"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Matt Dominguez 8 5 0 0 3 7 0 0 0.625 0.625 1.750 2.375
Luis Valbuena"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Luis Valbuena 6 4 1 0 0 2 1 0 0.667 0.714 0.833 1.548
Jose Altuve"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Jose Altuve 9 3 0 0 1 2 0 2 0.333 0.333 0.667 1.000
Chris Carter"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Chris Carter 8 3 1 0 2 3 0 2 0.375 0.333 1.250 1.583
Marwin Gonzalez"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Marwin Gonzalez 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 1.000 1.500 2.500
Jonathan Villar"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Jonathan Villar 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 1.000 1.000 1.000 2.000
Jason Castro"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Jason Castro 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0.333 0.333 1.333 1.667
Evan Gattis"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Evan Gattis 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.333 0.333 0.333 0.667
Robbie Grossman"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Robbie Grossman 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.500 0.500 0.500 1.000
L.J. Hoes"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">L.J. Hoes 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0.200 0.200 0.400 0.600
Colby Rasmus"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Colby Rasmus 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.333 0.333 0.667 1.000
Jon Singleton"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Jon Singleton 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.333 0.333 0.333 0.667
George Springer"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">George Springer 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.333 0.333 0.333 0.667
Jed Lowrie"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Jed Lowrie 15 0 0 0 0 0 3 5 0.000 0.167 0.000 0.167

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