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TV/radio: ATTSW; 790 AM, 740 AM, 93.3 FM (Spanish), 1010 AM (Spanish).
Pitchers: Monday, RHP Cristian Javier (9-2, 4.52) vs. LHP Chris Sale (5-3, 4.68); Tuesday, RHP J.P. France (9-5, 3.51) vs. RHP Brayan Bello (10-7, 3.56); Wednesday, LHP Framber Valdez (9-9, 3.40) vs. RHP Kutter Crawford (6-6, 3.65).
Astros (74-58) update: After winning 2-of-3 at Detroit, Houston finds itself in a virtual tie with Texas for second place in the American League West, one game behind sizzling Seattle. The Rangers and Astros hold the second and third wild cards, with Toronto 2½ games behind them. … In 29 games since his last stint on the injured list, Jose Altuve is hitting .365 (42-for-115) with 27 runs and eight stolen bases. Eight more steals in the season’s final five weeks would give him 300 for his career. … In his last 15 games, Alex Bregman is slashing .350/.451/.650 with 14 RBIs. … Kyle Tucker leads the American League with 97 RBIs and is also first with 39 since the All-Star break. Bregman and Chas McCormick are tied for sixth in the AL since the break with 31 RBIs apiece.
Red Sox (69-62) update: Boston, which split four games at Minute Maid Park last week, stands 4½ games out in the AL wild-card race after losing 2-of-3 to the Dodgers. … With 88 and 85 RBIs, respectively, Rafael Devers and Justin Turner rank fourth and sixth in the American League. … Turner, who is slashing .360/.484/.800 over his last seven games, is only five RBIs short of matching his career high. … Starting with last Thursday’s series finale in Houston, Alex Verdugo hit a leadoff home run in three consecutive games, joining Brady Anderson (1996) and Ronald Acuña Jr. (2018) as the only players to accomplish the feat. Verdugo went 0-for-5 on Sunday but is still hitting .313 (20-for-64) over his last 15 games. … … The Red Sox have homered in 16 straight games, their longest streak since a 19-game skein in August 2019. … Boston is an MLB-best 53-3 (.946) when leading after six innings. … Alex Cora has 431 wins as the Red Sox manager, one shy of tying John Farrell for sixth most.
Thoughts: The Astros travel to Boston to face a good hitting Red Sox team. The goal here is to win 2 of 3. That would allow the Astro to stay in contact with the Mariners and Rangers. The Rangers should have an easy time in NYC with a Mets team that quit a while back. The Mariners play the ultimate cake Oakland A’s. So win the series, maintain contact with their competitors, and be ready to pounce when the matchups are in the Astros’ favor. Let’s go!
ON DECK: ASTROS VS. BOSTON RED SOX
When/where: Monday and Tuesday at 6:10 p.m., Wednesday at 3:10 p.m.; Fenway Park.TV/radio: ATTSW; 790 AM, 740 AM, 93.3 FM (Spanish), 1010 AM (Spanish).
Pitchers: Monday, RHP Cristian Javier (9-2, 4.52) vs. LHP Chris Sale (5-3, 4.68); Tuesday, RHP J.P. France (9-5, 3.51) vs. RHP Brayan Bello (10-7, 3.56); Wednesday, LHP Framber Valdez (9-9, 3.40) vs. RHP Kutter Crawford (6-6, 3.65).
Astros (74-58) update: After winning 2-of-3 at Detroit, Houston finds itself in a virtual tie with Texas for second place in the American League West, one game behind sizzling Seattle. The Rangers and Astros hold the second and third wild cards, with Toronto 2½ games behind them. … In 29 games since his last stint on the injured list, Jose Altuve is hitting .365 (42-for-115) with 27 runs and eight stolen bases. Eight more steals in the season’s final five weeks would give him 300 for his career. … In his last 15 games, Alex Bregman is slashing .350/.451/.650 with 14 RBIs. … Kyle Tucker leads the American League with 97 RBIs and is also first with 39 since the All-Star break. Bregman and Chas McCormick are tied for sixth in the AL since the break with 31 RBIs apiece.
Red Sox (69-62) update: Boston, which split four games at Minute Maid Park last week, stands 4½ games out in the AL wild-card race after losing 2-of-3 to the Dodgers. … With 88 and 85 RBIs, respectively, Rafael Devers and Justin Turner rank fourth and sixth in the American League. … Turner, who is slashing .360/.484/.800 over his last seven games, is only five RBIs short of matching his career high. … Starting with last Thursday’s series finale in Houston, Alex Verdugo hit a leadoff home run in three consecutive games, joining Brady Anderson (1996) and Ronald Acuña Jr. (2018) as the only players to accomplish the feat. Verdugo went 0-for-5 on Sunday but is still hitting .313 (20-for-64) over his last 15 games. … … The Red Sox have homered in 16 straight games, their longest streak since a 19-game skein in August 2019. … Boston is an MLB-best 53-3 (.946) when leading after six innings. … Alex Cora has 431 wins as the Red Sox manager, one shy of tying John Farrell for sixth most.
Thoughts: The Astros travel to Boston to face a good hitting Red Sox team. The goal here is to win 2 of 3. That would allow the Astro to stay in contact with the Mariners and Rangers. The Rangers should have an easy time in NYC with a Mets team that quit a while back. The Mariners play the ultimate cake Oakland A’s. So win the series, maintain contact with their competitors, and be ready to pounce when the matchups are in the Astros’ favor. Let’s go!
