The Red Sox (39-19) look to beat the Astros (37-22) tonight in Houston (7:15 p.m., FOX), which is a hard enough proposition any time but especially so when Justin Verlander (7-2, 1.11 ERA) is on the mound.
About tonight’s game: Verlander will be matched by David Price (5-4, 4.04 ERA), which makes it a battle of former Cy Young Award winners. Price has see-sawed but has been fine, whereas Verlander is off to the best start in his Hall of Fame career.
He’ll face a lineup without Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia, who are both on the disabled list.