The Astros and Red Sox are set to kick off a three-game weekend series at historic Fenway Park tonight, and there's plenty of storylines to follow. Houston enters with a 12-20 record, while Boston sits just a half-game back at 12-19, making this a crucial early-season clash between two teams looking to find their footing.
On the mound for the Astros, right-hander Mike Burrows (1-3, 6.25 ERA) will make his seventh start of the season and his second against Boston. It's a homecoming of sorts for the Waterford, Connecticut native, who grew up a Red Sox fan. This will be his first start and second career appearance at Fenway Park—a venue he knows well from his childhood.
Burrows is coming off a strong stretch, with eight strikeouts in 5.0 innings against the Yankees in his last start and seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings against the Cardinals on April 19. He earned his first win as an Astro exactly one month ago today, tossing 5.0 innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts in a 6-4 victory over these same Red Sox on April 1 in Houston.
The Red Sox will counter with left-hander Jake Bennett, who will be making his MLB debut. It's a tough assignment for the rookie, facing a Houston lineup that swept Boston in a three-game series at Daikin Park earlier this season (March 30-April 1).
Speaking of history, the Astros have owned Fenway Park in recent years. Houston has won six of their last nine games at the ballpark and swept the Red Sox in consecutive visits in 2023 and 2024. Since 2017, the Astros boast a .640 winning percentage (16-9) in the regular season at Fenway—the best mark of any visiting team with at least 10 games played there. They've also gone 4-3 at Fenway in postseason play.
Tonight marks the fourth game of a six-game road trip for Houston, who currently sit at 1-2 on the journey. The Astros made a roster move after yesterday's doubleheader, sending right-hander Jason Alexander back to Triple-A Sugar Land after he served as the 27th man.
Whether you're tuning in from the stands or catching the action at home, this series promises plenty of drama as two historic franchises battle under the lights at Fenway. Grab your favorite Astros or Red Sox gear and settle in for what should be an exciting weekend of baseball.