White Sox vs. Astros Thursday MLB injury report, odds: Houston, without Jose Altuve, would set league record with 11th straight Opening Day victory

The Houston Astros will raise their latest World Series championship banner at Minute Maid Park ahead of Thursday's season opener against the Chicago White Sox, with ESPN having the telecast. The Astros have won 10 straight games on Opening Day, which ties as the longest streak in MLB history. They are -160 favorites at Caesars Sportsbook for Thursday behind ace Framber Valdez, but will be without former AL MVP Jose Altuve.

On paper, the 2023 Astros are not as good as the team that last took the field on Nov. 5, 2022, and beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the Fall Classic in six games. It was the club's fifth World Series appearance and their fourth in the last six seasons. Only the Yankees and Dodgers have also played in the last six postseasons.

Valdez got the win in that clincher vs. the Phillies, allowing just one earned run and two hits with nine strikeouts over six innings. He is the new ace because reigning Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander left in free agency for the New York Mets. Last season, the lefty Valdez went 17-6 with a 2.82 ERA and 194 strikeouts in a career-high and AL-leading 201.1 innings. He set an MLB record by registering 25 consecutive quality starts from April 25-Sept. 18. Valdez led the majors with 26 quality starts and was the only AL pitcher with three complete games.

Valdez will make his second straight Opening Day appearance as he beat the Angels last April 7 in Houston, shutting them out over 6.2 innings with two hits allowed. A Cy Young Award winner had started the previous seven openers for Houston: Zack Greinke in 2021, Verlander from 2018-20 and Dallas Keuchel from 2015-17.

The Astros are tied with the Boston Beaneaters (1887-96) for the longest Opening Day winning streak and covered on the runline in each win (i.e. won by at least two runs).

Altuve was a part of all 10 victories but will miss at least the first two months after being hit by a pitch on the thumb in the World Baseball Classic and needing surgery. The eight-time All-Star and 2017 AL MVP – and likely future Hall of Famer – hit .300 with 28 homers and 57 RBI last season, winning his sixth career Silver Slugger Award (2014-2018, 2022). Houston was 10-11 last regular season without him compared to 96-45 with him.

Shortstop Jeremy Peña should lead off while Altuve is out. DH Michael Brantley is dealing with a shoulder injury and isn't expected to be ready to join the team until mid-to-late April.

The White Sox's big free-agent loss this offseason was first baseman and 2020 AL MVP Jose Abreu, who signed with Houston. The Sox start their ace on the mound in right-hander Dylan Cease, the 2022 AL Cy Young runner-up to Verlander. Cease was 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA last year, striking out 227 against an MLB-high 78 walks in 184 innings pitched. He is 0-3 with a 6.30 ERA over four career starts against the Astros.

Thursday also marks the MLB managerial debut of Chicago's Pedro Grifol, who served the previous three seasons as the Royals' bench coach under Mike Matheny.  

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