Astros Preview

The Red Sox host the Astros this Sunday, July 22, at 1:00 p.m. at Cumberland Valley High School.

The weather forecast is mostly sunny with a high around 83 degrees.

This is a huge matchup which will go a long way toward determining the final standings in the division. The Astros have been hot lately and have matched the Sox and Dodgers with a 6-3 record. The league rules state that the first tie-breaker is head-to-head record, so on that basis the Astros currently hold the advantage by virtue of their victory over the Sox on June 3. The winner of this Sunday's game will be in good shape to finish out the season on top, but both teams still have to contend with the Dodgers.

When the two teams met on June 3, the Astros pulled out a comeback win thanks to some shaky defense by the Red Sox late in the game. The Sox have been kicking themselves for letting that one get away. But the fact is that the Astros held the Sox offense to just 6 runs over 9 full innings, one of only two games in which the Sox haven't scored in double digits.

As always at this time of year, absences due to vacation and other adventures will play a big role. The Sox will be without the services of workhorse pitcher Mike Craig for sure, and Matt Eckenrode is questionable. In addition, the enigmatic Matt LaBuda is still trying to shake off the effects of an injury he suffered on a freak play last week. If he's unable to perform at full strength, it will force the Sox to shuffle the defense to cover his spot at shortstop, and take away another option on the mound.

On the plus side, the expected returns of Bill Miller and Troy Jensen will add pop to the lineup and help settle the defense.

Another 7-6 game is unlikely. The Sox will need to score early and often and find a way to get 27 outs against a determined Astros squad.

Play ball!