MLB Postseason 2017: Red Sox vs Astros ALDS series preview
By Sean Penney
Head-to-Head
Houston won the season series 4-3, although that record can be taken with a grain of salt. With postseason seedings locked in by that point, both teams rolled out their B squad rosters for the regular season finale won by the Astros.
If we ignore that meaningless last game, the Astros essentially took two out of three in Boston, matching what the Red Sox did in Houston back in June. From a head-to-head record perspective, these teams are basically equal.
Here’s a breakdown of those previous meetings this season.
June 16 @ Houston – Red Sox 2, Astros 1
Mookie Betts hit an eighth-inning solo home run to break a 1-1 tie, giving Boston the narrow victory.
June 17 @ Houston – Astros 7, Red Sox 1
The Astros jumped on Rick Porcello out of the gate, lighting up the right-hander for seven runs over six innings. Boston was held to three hits, with their only run coming on a solo homer from Chris Young in the fifth inning.
June 18 @ Houston – Red Sox 6, Astros 5
David Price earned his second win of the season despite lasting only five innings and allowing three runs. The Red Sox lineup scored four times in the top of the sixth, just in time to take the lead with their starter still in line for the decision.
September 28 @ Boston – Astros 12, Red Sox 2
This wasn’t how the Red Sox wanted to open their final series of the regular season, especially against the team they were destined to meet in the playoffs. Eduardo Rodriguez gave up five early runs and couldn’t make it out of the second inning. The Astros piled up 17 hits in the route.
September 29 @ Boston – Astros 3, Red Sox 2
Boston chipped away at the lead after falling into an early 3-0 hole but couldn’t finish the comeback against the Astros bullpen. They had the tying run in scoring position in the ninth inning following a Hanley Ramirez double only for Rafael Devers to ground out to end the game.
September 30 @ Boston – Red Sox 6, Astros 3
Boston clinched the AL East division title with a win behind six innings of one-run ball from starter Drew Pomeranz. The Red Sox lineup scored twice in the fourth inning and tacked on three more in the fifth against Lance McCullers to build a lead they would not relinquish.
October 1 @ Boston – Astros 4, Red Sox 3
The Red Sox started Hector Velazquez instead of Chris Sale, which tells you all you need to know about how much this game mattered to them. Boston favored lining up their rotation with Sale ready for Game 1 over carrying momentum into the postseason.