This is an 8* play on the CWS.

The White Sox are still 2.5 games clear of second place Cleveland in the AL Central, but Chicago has dropped four in a row. They will look to avoid the sweep in the final game of a home series versus Houston tonight, and they are favored to do just that with their ace on the mound.

Chris Sale will toe the slab for the Sox, and he's been untouchable so far in 2016. Sale (8-0, 1.67 ERA) gave up just one run on six hits, striking out six in a complete game win over the Yankees his last time out. He was very efficient in that game, using just 99 pitches to put away the Bronx Bombers. That's his lowest pitch count of the season so far. He's owned the Astros, going 2-1 with a 0.75 ERA in three starts versus Houston since 2013.

Houston will hand the ball to Colin McHugh, who hasn't missed many bats this season. McHugh (4-3, 5.58 ERA) allowed four runs on 10 hits and three walks over six innings in a 6-5 loss to Boston his last time out. He's been fortunate to get a lot of run support, or his record would be much worse. He's given up 10 or more hits in three of his starts so far this season, and he's walked six batters in his last three starts. Putting that many men on base is a recipe for disaster when facing an opposing team's ace.

McHugh is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA against the White Sox over the last three seasons.

Take CWS.

GL,

Jesse Schule