Not only are the Red Sox swinging hot bats - scoring 51 runs in their last four games - they have their most effective pitcher going in underrated knuckleballer Steven Wright. He's had a quality start in each of his six starts this season with a 1.52 ERA.

The Astros are countering with Lance McCullers, who is making his first start of the season after being on the DL with a shoulder injury sustained during spring training. He was only able to pitching eight innings in the minors to prepare for this start.

Houston has lost seven of the past eight times McCullers has pitched. The Astros are a very bad road team dropping 42 of their last 60 away contests. They are 1-10 in McCullers' last 11 road outings.

Boston is 14-4 in its last 18 games and going for its sixth straight win. All of the Red Sox's victories during their current win streak have been by four or more runs. I'm not going to stand in front of the Red Sox. Everything shapes up well again for them today.