WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Third baseman Isaac Paredes returned to the Houston Astros' lineup Monday after missing the team's series against the Twins with a left hamstring strain. Paredes injured his hamstring last Thursday running to first base and did not appear in the next three games.

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.

Isaac Paredes' hamstring injury hasn't forced him to the IL yet, but Jacob Melton's new ankle injury could lead to a prolonged absence.

Prospect Brice Matthews is also on the radar but Astros want to see more contact from him at the plate in Sugar Land.

Astros first. Jeremy Pena grounds out to second base, Max Schuemann to Nick Kurtz. Isaac Paredes pops out to third base to Max Muncy. Jose Altuve homers to left field. Christian Walker flies out to center field to JJ Bleday.

Joe Ryan fixed the team’s starting pitching problem, but the Astros answered with Hunter Brown in a pitchers’ duel decided in the ninth inning.

Isaac Paredes is also out for a third consecutive game with a strained hamstring as Houston goes through another round of injuries.

The Houston Astros sit at the top of the American League West by a solid 4.5 games with the only team to have won over 40 games (41). A big part of this? Their