Astros visit the Red Sox to start 3-game series

Updated Aug. 9, 2024 4:00 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Houston Astros (59-55, first in the AL West) vs. Boston Red Sox (61-52, third in the AL East)

Boston; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Ronel Blanco (9-6, 2.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 121 strikeouts); Red Sox: Tanner Houck (8-8, 3.09 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 123 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Red Sox -131, Astros +110; over/under is 9 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Red Sox host the Houston Astros to open a three-game series.

Boston has a 61-52 record overall and a 27-28 record at home. The Red Sox are 14-7 in games decided by one run.

Houston is 59-55 overall and 27-29 in road games. Astros hitters have a collective .320 on-base percentage, the fourth-ranked percentage in the AL.

The matchup Friday is the first meeting of the season between the two clubs.

TOP PERFORMERS: Ceddanne Rafaela has 16 doubles, four triples and 13 home runs for the Red Sox. Tyler O'Neill is 12-for-35 with four doubles and four home runs over the past 10 games.

Jose Altuve has a .303 batting average to lead the Astros, and has 21 doubles and 14 home runs. Yainer Diaz is 16-for-40 with two home runs and four RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Red Sox: 6-4, .300 batting average, 5.36 ERA, outscored opponents by six runs

Astros: 4-6, .223 batting average, 3.69 ERA, outscored by 11 runs

INJURIES: Red Sox: Tyler O'Neill: 10-Day IL (leg), Bryan Mata: 60-Day IL (hamstring), Justin Slaten: 15-Day IL (elbow), Triston Casas: 60-Day IL (rib), Garrett Whitlock: 60-Day IL (oblique), Trevor Story: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Liam Hendriks: 60-Day IL (elbow), Chris Murphy: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lucas Giolito: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Astros: Kyle Tucker: 60-Day IL (shin), Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (neck), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (forearm), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (forearm), Oliver Ortega: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bennett Sousa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Penn Murfee: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lance McCullers Jr.: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kendall Graveman: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.