Bogaerts will hit sixth as the Sox play the second of a four-game series with the Astros.
The 21-year-old has had an up-and-down season, and he’s looking to end the season on a high note. He’s hitting just .140 with 12 strikeouts in 11 games this month, but he does have three hits in his last two games and drove in a run on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds.
Bogaerts will be getting his first look at Houston starter Dallas Keuchel. The left-hander will be making just his second career appearance against the Red Sox, and it can’t go much worse than the first. Keuchel’s only appearance against the Sox was a relief appearance in which he gave up four runs on three hits in just 2/3 of an inning.
Facing Boston may be even more difficult this time around for Keuchel who has to deal with Yoenis Cespedes. The former Oakland Athletics outfielder is 5-for-10 in his career against Keuchel, all of those at-bats coming when Cespedes was in Oakland.
The Red Sox will have right-hander Clay Buchholz on the mound Friday. Buchholz had his finest start of the season against Houston back on July 13. He tossed a complete-game, three-hit shutout and struck out a season-high 12 batters. Buchholz is 2-0 in his career against Houston with a 1.08 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings.
Here’s the Red Sox lineup for Friday night.
Boston Red Sox (55-65)
Brock Holt, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Yoenis Cespedes, LF
Mike Napoli, 1B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Christian Vazquez, C
Clay Buchholz, RHP (5-7, 5.99 ERA)
Houston Astros (50-72)
Robbie Grossman, LF
Jose Altuve, 2B
Chris Carter, DH
Dexter Fowler, CF
Jason Castro, C
Jon Singleton, 1B
Matt Dominguez, 3B
Jake Marisnik, RF
Marwin Gonzalez, SS
Dallas Keuchel, LHP (10-8, 3.07 ERA)