Manager Joe Espada's attempt to explain a walk-off win Sunday trailed off into an appropriate admission. "I don't know, speechless," he said. A depleted Houston Astros team is authoring its hottest stretch of the first half.

Aaron Civale is a Chicago White Sox starting pitcher — for now. The 30-year-old right-hander joined the White Sox this week after he was traded to them by the Milwaukee Brewers. This came after he asked for a trade when was moved to the bullpen as Milwaukee made way for the Major League debut of its top pitching prospect, Jacob Misiorowski.

How are the Astros doing this? How do they keep stacking wins despite not having slugger Yordan Alvarez for the last month, six starting pitchers on the injured list and a lineup Sunday that didn’t include Christian Walker or Isaac Paredes,

Left-hander Brandon Walter makes his third start for the Houston Astros who are going for a sweep of the Minnesota Twins before seven-game road trip to Sacramento and Anaheim. Simeon Woods Richardson pitches for Minnesota.

Play him at second base, outfielder or designated hitter and it doesn’t matter. Houston Astros star Jose Altuve keeps producing.