Triston Casas returns to the Red Sox, Justin Turner and Jarren Duran are out of the lineup
The Red Sox will begin an important four-game series against the Astros from Minute Maid Park on Monday night. Heading into the matchup, the Red Sox are sitting three games back in their pursuit of a wild-card spot in the American League.
The Astros are reeling, losers of their last three, all at the hands of the Mariners. With Houston ahead of Boston in the standings by a slim margin, this entire series could set the tone for the remainder of the Sox schedule for the latter of the season.
The Red Sox have won each of their last 3 games. They are 8-3 in their last 11 games. The Sox are 26-16 (.619) in their last 42 games since 6/30, MLB’s 5th-best record in that time.
Jarren Duran and Justin Turner are not in the Red Sox lineup. Duran is listed as day-to-day with a left toe contusion. The speedy outfielder is not expected to land on the injured list due to the injury. Turner has been playing through a bone bruise on on his left heel.
Red Sox skipper Alex Cora will give the 38-year-old veteran a day after playing two straight days at first base for Triston Casas.
Turner mashed all weekend including two hits in the series clinching sweep over the Yankees on Sunday afternoon. He collected four RBI in the win, hitting his 20th homer, a three-run shot in the seventh inning to make it 5-2. Turner then laced an opposite-field double to right field to give the Sox the lead in the ninth off Clay Holmes.
“He’s grinding right now,” Cora said postgame in the Bronx. “I texted him this morning. He’s like, ‘I’m good, bro, I’ll play.’ For him to just go out there and play for us, it means a lot. He put good at-bats. The walk early on, then the homer, then the line drive to right field. He’s a good hitter. He’s a great leader. I’m glad he’s playing for us.”
The 23-year-old first baseman missed Saturday and Sunday due to a tooth infection. He returns to the Sox lineup and will bat cleanup behind Masataka Yoshida.
James Paxton will earn the start opposed by Astros righty Cristian Javier.
Paxton allowed two runs over six innings last Wednesday at the Nationals. He surrendered five hits (two homers), one walk and struck out three batters. The southpaw owns a career 3.24 ERA (29 ER/80.2 IP) against the Astros.
The veteran hurler has pitched five-plus innings in 13 of his 16 starts. Paxton has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 11 of them, and issued two or fewer walks in 14 of them.
Red Sox Notebook:
WHO: Red Sox (66-58) at Astros (70-55)
WHEN: 8:10 p.m.
WHERE: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas.
SERIES TO DATE: Houston went 4-2 versus the Red Sox in 2022.
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP James Paxton (7-3, 3.34) vs. RHP Cristian Javier (8-2, 4.49)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
RED SOX LINEUP
Alex Verdugo RF
Rafael Devers 3B
Masataka Yoshida LF
Triston Casas 1B
Adam Duvall CF
Trevor Story DH
Pablo Reyes SS
Reese McGuire C
Luis Urías 2B
Around the Horn
Rafael Devers has recorded three hits in each of his last three games (9-for-14) and has homered in three of his last four. In 38 games since 7/1, he has hit .343 with a 1.050 OPS (48-for-140, 10 homers, 10 doubles).
The Sox rank 11th in MLB in stolen base % and 17th in steals (80.6, 87-for-108). They have been successful in each of their last eight attempts since 8/11, 18 players have stolen a base for Boston this season, most in the AL and tied with the Pirates for most in the bigs.
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