Game No. 162 Preview: Houston Astros at Boston Red Sox

Houston Astros (100-61) vs. Boston Red Sox (93-68), Oct. 1, 2017, 2:05 PM CT

TV: AT&T Sportsnet SW
Radio: KBME 790 AM, La Nueva 94.1 FM
Online: MLB.TV,
Red Sox SBNation Blog: Over the Monster

Pitching Matchup

RHP Collin McHugh (4-2, 3.45 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, .307 BABIP, 4.84 xFIP) vs. RHP Hector Velazquez (3-1, 3.48 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, .250 BABIP, 4.07 xFIP)

Preview

Game 162 would have been headlined by two No.1 starters for the Astros and Red Sox if the game mattered. But it doesn't. So no Justin Verlander. No. Chris Sale.

The Astros are the AL West Champions and in second place in the American League. The Red Sox are the AL East Champions and the third-place team in the AL. No matter the outcome on Sunday, the two teams will face each other the ALDS.

Thus, we see Collin McHugh is facing Hector Velazquez on Sunday.

McHugh, 30, is 2-0 with a 4.15 ERA during the month of September. He has only pitched eight innings over those three starts. But McHugh has allowed only three runs over his last 10 innings.

McHugh is 2-2 with a 4.76 ERA in five career starts against the Red Sox. He was 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA in two starts in 2016

Velázquez is making his third start of the 2017 season. He is 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA in his two previous starts.

Velazquez may not go long because he has already pitch in series against the Astros out of the bullpen.