The Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox are back at it this afternoon for Game 2 of their weekend series at Fenway Park. After dropping the opener, the Astros look to even things up behind a red-hot pitcher who's been dealing since day one.
Right-hander Spencer Arrighetti takes the mound for Houston, and he's been nothing short of spectacular. After starting the season in Triple-A Sugar Land, Arrighetti has been lights out in his three big-league starts, boasting a perfect 3-0 record with a 2.00 ERA. In 18 innings, he's allowed just four earned runs while striking out 21 batters and holding opponents to a .169 batting average. His last outing was a gem—seven innings of one-run ball against the Yankees, earning him the win.
But here's where it gets really interesting: Arrighetti has owned the Red Sox in two career starts. Boston hitters are a combined 3-for-38 (.079) against him. His Fenway debut back in August 2024 was electric—he struck out a career-high 13 batters over seven innings in a 5-4 win. Even in a loss last August, he allowed just one hit over five frames before the bullpen unraveled.
Boston counters with left-hander Connelly Early, a young arm the Astros have never faced. That's a key storyline because Houston is seeing lefties in all three games of this series—the first time since April 2021 they've faced southpaws in every game of a three-game set. The last time they saw three consecutive left-handed starters was last September against the Angels.
This is also a road trip defined by early starts. After a rainout in Baltimore pushed things around, four of the six games on this trip are day games. The Astros have already played one day game coming off their last homestand, so they'll have played five of seven in the daylight by the time this trip wraps up.
Houston has had Boston's number recently, sweeping the Red Sox at home back in late March. Overall, since 2017, the Astros are 33-23 against Boston. They'll need that kind of edge again today to get back on track after a slow start to the season.