Emotions Running High As Red Sox Kick Off Pivotal Series With Astros
Monday's game is a big one for both sides
Monday will be an emotional day at Daikin Park when the Boston Red Sox take on the Houston Astros.
The Astros’ starting pitcher will be Cristian Javier, who’s making his first Major League start since May 2024. After missing over a year due to Tommy John surgery, he’s finally ready to return for Houston.
Astros fans will also welcome back fan favorite Carlos Correa, who’s playing his first home game for Houston in nearly four years. Correa signed with the Minnesota Twins after the 2021 World Series but was shockingly traded to the Astros at the MLB Trade Deadline on July 31.
Houston embarked on a nine-game road trip the following day, so this is the team’s first home game since the trade deadline. Correa has been on fire for the Astros, collecting multiple hits in each of his last five games and slashing .405/.476/.622 since the trade.
It will also be a homecoming for Alex Bregman, who returns to Daikin Park for the first time since signing with the Red Sox in the offseason. It will be his first game as a visitor there after spending the first nine seasons of his career with Houston.
There’s also Alex Cora returning to his old stomping grounds after serving as the Astros’ bench coach during their 2017 championship season.
And if that wasn’t enough, Monday’s game also has major playoff implications for both sides. Houston leads the AL West by just half a game over the Seattle Mariners, while Boston currently controls the AL’s second wild card spot.
The Red Sox will send their ace, Garrett Crochet (13-4, 2.24 ERA), to the bump in search of his seventh straight win. He’ll try to cool off Correa and spoil Javier’s return with some help from Bregman, who’s batting .368/.538/.474 with six walks over his last six games.
