Red Sox play the Astros with 1-0 series lead | AP News

Houston Astros (12-21, fourth in the AL West) vs. Boston Red Sox (13-19, fifth in the AL East)Boston; Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Spencer Arrighetti (3-0, 2.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 21 strikeouts); Red Sox: Connelly Early (2-1, 2.84 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 28 strikeouts)LINE: Red Sox -124, Astros +104; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Boston Red Sox lead 1-0 in a three-game series against the Houston Astros.Boston is 13-19 overall and 6-8 at home. The Red Sox have the eighth-ranked team batting average in the AL at .234.Houston has a 12-21 record overall and a 4-13 record in road games. The Astros have hit 41 total home runs to rank eighth in the majors.Saturday’s game is the fifth time these teams meet this season. The Astros are ahead 3-1 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Willson Contreras has three doubles, seven home runs and 20 RBIs while hitting .264 for the Red Sox. Marcelo Mayer is 11 for 28 with three doubles over the past 10 games. Yordan Alvarez has a .341 batting average to lead the Astros, and has nine doubles and 12 home runs. Christian Walker is 15 for 40 with three home runs and eight RBIs over