TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros (12-21) and Boston Red Sox (13-19) play the 2nd game of this 3-game weekend series at Fenway Park this afternoon.
RHP Spencer Arrighetti (3-0, 2.00 ERA) will start for the Astros vs. BOS LHP Connelly Early (2-1, 2.84 ERA). The Astros will be facing Early for the 1st time in his young career.
SPENCER’S GIFTS: After starting the season at Triple A Sugar Land, RHP Spencer Arrighetti has been strong in his 3 starts for the Astros this season. He is 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA (4ER/18IP)
with 9 BB and 21 SO and a .169 opp. avg.
In his last start on Sunday vs. NYY, he allowed just 3 hits and 1 run in 7.0 IP with 8 strikeouts (7-4 win).
SUCCESS VS. THE SOX: RHP Spencer Arrighetti has had success in his previous 2 starts vs. the Red Sox. In those 2 starts combined, Red Sox hitters are just 3×38 (.079) vs. him.
In his Fenway Park debut on Aug. 10, 2024, Arrighetti tallied a career-high 13 strikeouts en route to a 5-4 win (7 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 13 SO).
On Aug. 12 of last season, Arrighetti allowed just 1 hit in 5.0 IP vs. BOS, but took the loss in what ended in a 14-1 Red Sox win (5 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 SO).
LOTS OF LEFTIES: The Astros are scheduled to face LH starters in all 3 games of this series.
The last time they faced a LH starter in all games of a 3-game series was April 30-May 2, 2021 vs. TB (almost exactly 5 years ago).
The last time that HOU has faced 3 consecutive LH starters overall was Sept. 19-21, 2024 vs. LAA (4-game series).
ROADIES: Today is the 5th game (1-3 thus far) of a 6-game road trip for the Astros.
HOU was 1-2 in BAL on the first stop of the trip.
DAYTIMERS: As a result of Wednesday night’s rainout in BAL, 4 of the 6 games on the Astros current road trip will be day games.
HOU ended their last homestand with a day game, so they will have played 5 of 7 games in the daytime once they complete this road trip.
VS THE SAWX: The Astros swept the Red Sox in a 3-game series at Daikin Park earlier this season, Mar. 30-April 1.
Over the past 10 seasons (since 2017), HOU is 33-23 (.589) vs. BOS overall.
FUN AT FENWAY: Despite being swept in a 3-game series in their last visit here (Aug. 1-3), the Astros have had recent success at Fenway Park. HOU has won 6 of their last 10 games at Fenway.
Prior to last year’s series in Aug., HOU had swept the Red Sox in 2 consecutive visits to Fenway, Aug. 28-30 of 2023 and Aug. 9-11 of 2024 (both 3-game series).
The Astros are 16-10 (.615) in the regular season at Fenway Park since 2017. Houston is also 4-3 at Fenway all-time in the postseason.
YORDAN AT FENWAY: In 13 career reg. season games at Fenway, Yordan Alvarez is hitting .438 (21×48) with 7 HR and 16 RBI with a 1.529 OPS. His career OPS, SLG (.979) and OBP (.550) at Fenway are the best all-time (min. 50 PA).
PLAYER OF THE MONTH?: Yordan Alvarez is a strong candidate for the AL Player of the Month Award for March/April as he has had a torrid start to his season, hitting .341 with 12 HR and 27 RBI.
Alvarez currently leads the AL in RBI (27), TB (87) and OBP (.446) while ranking 2nd in batting avg. (.341), SLG (.707) and OPS (1.153) and T-2nd in HR (12).
HIT PARADE: The Astros, who lead the AL in batting (.267), have reached double-figures in hits in each of the last 3 games, going 38×118 (.322) in that span.
Last night marked the 14th game in which HOU reached double figures in hits in 2026.
ROAD WARRIOR: In 12 road games (9 starts) this season, Brice Matthews is 11×35 (.314) with a HR, 7 RBI and 5 BB, slashing (.313/.400/.486) for an .886 OPS.
In his young career, Matthews is hitting .288 in 19 road games (15 starts) with 5 HR and 16 RBI with a .373 OBP and a .593 SLG (.966 OPS).
CLIMBING THE CHARTS: With 238 career HR as a second basemen, Jose Altuve needs one more to tie Lou Whitaker for 7th place all-time among 2nd basemen.
Altuve also needs 3 RBI to become the 5th player in franchise history to reach 900.
WALKER, TEXAS HAMMER: Christian Walker is hitting .375 (15×40) in his last 10 games (since 4/20) with 3 HR and 8 RBI.
For the season, Walker enters today ranked T-7th in the AL in RBI (24), 7th in SLG (.546), 5th in TB (65), 9th in OPS (.917) and T-6th in doubles (9).
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2017 – The Astros erupt for 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning, lifting them to an 8-7, come-from-behind win over the Texas Rangers in Houston. Marwin Gonzalez led the way as his grand slam in that 8th inning was the key blow. For the game, Gonzalez went 2×3 with 2 HR and 5 RBI.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, May 2, 3:10 p.m. CT
Location: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
