ON DECK: CHICAGO WHITE SOX AT ASTROS

When/where: Friday at 7:10 p.m., Saturday at 3:10 p.m., Sunday at 6:08 p.m.; Minute Maid Park.

TV/radio: Apple TV+ on Friday, ATTSW on Saturday, ESPN on Sunday; 790 AM and 1010 AM (Spanish) all three games, 740 AM on Friday, 97.5 FM on Sunday.

Pitchers: Friday, LHP Framber Valdez (6-3, 2.64) vs. RHP Lucas Giolito (4-2, 3.88); Saturday, RHP Justin Verlander (8-2, 1.94) vs. RHP Johnny Cueto (0-3, 3.53); Sunday, RHP Cristian Javier (3-3, 3.20) vs. TBD.

Astros (39-24) update: Houston, which beat the White Sox in a four-game ALDS last October, has the American League West’s only winning record. … Yordan Alvarez has been scorching in June. He’s slashing .468/.552/.787 this month with 17 RBIs in 13 games. … Kyle Tucker has hit safely in 14 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the majors. He is 17-for-51 (.333) in that span. … Michael Brantley has an 11-game hitting streak, during which he is 18-for-42 (.429). … Verlander needs three strikeouts to pass CC Sabathia (3,093) for 16th place on the all-time list. … The managers in this series carry 150 years of life experience. Astros skipper Dusty Baker turned 73 on Wednesday. White Sox counterpart Tony La Russa is 77.

White Sox (30-31) update: Coming off a three-game sweep at Detroit, during which it outscored the Tigers 27-6, third-place Chicago is five games behind AL Central leader Minnesota. … Jose Abreu has been bullish of late. Over his last 15 games, the first baseman is slashing .373/.486/.627 with four home runs and 10 RBIs. … What a Burger! (Sorry, couldn’t resist.) Rookie Jake Burger, who was sent to the minors on May 9 with a .628 OPS, has been sizzling since his May 24 recall. Over his last 17 games, he’s hitting .311/.373/.689 with six home runs and 16 RBIs. … Yoan Moncada, who missed the first four weeks of the season because of a right oblique strain, has largely struggled since being activated on May 9. With a five-hit, five-RBI game Wednesday, he raised his batting average from .141 to .181.