Game 24 Preview: Astros at Red Sox

Houston at Boston, 6:10 PM CT

TV: CSN Houston
Radio: KBME 790 AM
Red Sox SBNation Blog: Over the Monster

Pitching Match

RHP Brad Peacock (1-2 / 7.50 ERA / 1.56 WHIP) vs. LHP Felix Doubront (2-0 / 4.32 ERA / 1.50 WHIP)

Preview

All this draft talk right now, reminds of the excitement to come for the Astros on June 6^th. For now, the Astros continue their series in Boston. Two of the keys to the Astros' futility against the Red Sox - Houston has been horrendous with runners in scoring position (2 - 17) and the starters have only pitcher 7.2 innings in the first two games. The blackout for Houstonians is twisting the knife a little more each day. While the results haven't been fruitful in Bean-Town, it would be nice to see the Astros road-greys against the Green Monster backdrop.

Pitchers

Brad Peacock had a tough task in his previous start, to outduel Félix Hernández. Peacock labored through 4.1 innings, giving up seven runs. The Mariners have taken Peacock five times in his two starts against Seattle, 18.8% of Peacock's current homerun fly ball rate is killer. Félix Doubront takes the mound for the Red Sox; Doubront was the one bright spot in the underperforming Boston rotation in 2012. In 29 starts last season, zero lasted past the seven inning. The Astros need to stay disciplined and force Doubront to attack the zone.

Hitters

Shane Victorino is the only Boston to have faced Peacock, he is hitless in three at-bats. David Oritz has been hot since getting into the lineup, hitting 12-24 thus far. The Astros have 25 strikeouts thus far in Boston, which has to improve to change the results in Boston.