The Red Sox lost their first series in nearly three weeks on the weekend, throwing decision makers to the Padres on Sunday in San Diego.
Boston will hope to rematch with Astros, which has swept Sox for the first time last weekend since 2013.
The Red Sox lost the last four and must be happy they sent Ace Garrett Crochet to the mound on Monday. Big Lefty has won the last six games. Boston's only loss in crochet since early June was his seven closing innings that ultimately beat the Angels on June 24.
Cristian Javier will make his Houston debut after he is out 14 months after Tommy John's surgery.
Houston's first course was 8:10 p.m. East. Here is a preview.
Red Sox (65-54): Roma Anthony DH, Alex Bregman 3B, Jaren Duran LF, Jarren Duran LF, Trevor Story SS, Wilyer Abreu RF, Romy Gonzalez 2B, Abraham Toro 1B, Ceddanne Rafaela CF, Carlos Narváez C. Carlos Narváez C.
Get the starting point
Ballball: LHP Garrett Crochet (13-4, 2.24 ERA)
Astros (66-52): Jeremy PeñaSS, Carlos Correa 3B, Jose Altuve DH, Christian Walker 1B, Yainer Diaz C, Ramón Urías2B, Mauricio Dubón LF, Chas McCormick McCormick CF, Cam Smith RF.
Ballball: RHP Cristian Javier (NR)
Time: 8:10 pm
Television, Radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
Daily Statistics: Crochet leads with victory (13) and innings (148⅓) and accelerates AL in ERA (2.24).
Note: Crochet is 0-2, with an ERA of 4.35 in three professional appearances against the Astros (two starts). He faced Houston twice last season while also pitching with the Chicago White Sox, he didn't take into account the decision to win 5-4 on August 16 as he hit four times with nine innings. . . In his last 11 games, crochet has not been lost yet. . . Bregman will play in Houston for the first time since leaving the team last offseason. Bregman is part of two World Series champions in his nine seasons. “It will be great,” Bregman said. “It would be cool to go back to Houston with a really good balloon game. I look forward to being there to compete with them and trying to get some wins.” . . The Red Sox played four games behind the Blue Jays at Al East and received the first wildcard in the first game behind the Mariners.
Amin Touri can be contacted at amin.touri@globe.com.