The Houston Astros tasted defeat for the first time in nearly two weeks Sunday afternoon and now will press on -- for at least one game -- without another injured star. Outfielder George Springer, the American League leader in home runs and RBIs entering Sunday, will sit out Monday's opener of a four-game series with the visiting Chicago White Sox due to a stiff back.

The early MVP front-runner went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in the 4-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Sunday before exiting in the fifth and he hopes to avoid landing on an injured list that already contains star second baseman Jose Altuve. "He never really got loose today and it got progressively worse," manager A.J. Hinch told reporters of Springer. "His swings got a little more timid as the day went on. I probably should have taken him out a little earlier, too." The defeat at Fenway Park snapped Houston's winning streak at 10 games but it still has a string of five straight wins at home entering the series opener with the White Sox. Chicago begins a seven-game road trip after splitting a four-game set with Toronto at home, capped by Sunday's 5-2 loss.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Chicago Plus, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: TBD vs. Astros RH Brad Peacock (4-2, 4.01 ERA)

This start was originally slated for left-hander Manny Banuelos, but he was added to the injured list Friday due to a shoulder strain. The team is expected to announce a starter once it is in Houston and it could go with an "opener" for an inning or two, although manager Rick Renteria is not entirely sure he wants to try that method yet. "If it wants to be considered an opener, in terms of the term, yeah, it could be an opener," he told reporters this weekend. "We just haven't determined exactly where we're at yet."

After giving up seven runs in 3 2/3 innings in a loss at Minnesota on May 2, Peacock has allowed a total of one run in 12 frames while winning back-to-back starts. He has 15 strikeouts with six hits -- no home runs -- allowed in that span. The 31-year-old is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in five career meetings (three starts) with the White Sox.

WALK-OFFS

1. White Sox OF Eloy Jimenez (ankle) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list Monday.

2. Astros SS Carlos Correa has eight RBIs over his last eight games.

3. Houston won all seven meetings last season by a combined margin of 56-16.

PREDICTION: Astros 8, White Sox 3