Red Sox at Astros
The top two strikeout pitchers in the American League will go head-to-head when the visiting Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros resume their four-game series on Friday night. Boston ace left-hander Chris Sale, the major league leader with 308 strikeouts in 2017, ranks second in the AL this season behind Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole.
Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the offseason, Cole has turned in a quality start in 10 of his 11 outings while reaching double digits in strikeouts five times. Astros shortstop Carlos Correa muddled through May with a .188 batting average before capping the month with a two-run homer in Thursday's 4-2 victory for the AL West leaders. Sale is coming off his worst outing of the season but has a great track record against Houston, owning a 5-1 record and 1.31 ERA in six starts. Xander Bogaerts extended his hitting streak to four with a two-run double in Thursday's loss for major league-best Boston, which was without leading hitter Mookie Betts for a fifth straight game due to soreness in his left side.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NESN (Boston), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Chris Sale (5-2, 2.76 ERA) vs. Astros RH Gerrit Cole (5-1, 2.05)
Sale lasted a season-low 4 1/3 innings against Atlanta on Sunday, giving up six runs and five hits to snap his six-start undefeated streak. It was the first time in a dozen starts this season that he permitted more than three runs and marked the fifth straight outing in which he has surrendered a home run. Reigning AL MVP Jose Altuve is among the few Astros to enjoy success against Sale, going 8-for-21 with a homer.
Cole gave up three runs and four hits over seven innings at Cleveland last time out but lost his chance for his sixth victory following a ninth-inning meltdown by Houston's bullpen. Cole is unbeaten in his last six turns overall but is finding wins hard to come by at Minute Maid Park, posting a 1-1 record with a 2.41 ERA in five home starts. Cole is 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA in a pair of career starts versus the Red Sox.
WALK-OFFS
1. Correa has reached base safely in each of his 20 career games against Boston.
2. Astros C Brian McCann had his right knee drained and received some shots on Wednesday.
3. Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia (left knee soreness) was scratched from the lineup Thursday and is listed as day-to-day.