The Red Sox lost their first series in nearly three weeks over the weekend, dropping the decider to the Padres on Sunday in San Diego.
Boston will look to bounce back in a rematch with the Astros, whom the Sox swept last weekend for the first time since 2013.
Having lost three of their last four, the Red Sox must be happy they get to send ace Garrett Crochet to the mound on Monday. The big lefthander has picked up the win in his last six starts. Boston’s only loss in a Crochet start since the beginning of June came when he threw seven shutout innings in an eventual defeat to the Angels on June 24.
Righthander Cristian Javier will make his season debut for Houston after a 14-month absence following Tommy John surgery.
First pitch in Houston is at 8:10 p.m. Eastern. Here’s a preview.
RED SOX (65-54): Roman Anthony DH, Alex Bregman 3B, Jarren Duran LF, Trevor Story SS, Wilyer Abreu RF, Romy Gonzalez 2B, Abraham Toro 1B, Ceddanne Rafaela CF, Carlos Narváez C.
Pitching: LHP Garrett Crochet (13-4, 2.24 ERA)
ASTROS (66-52): Jeremy Peña SS, Carlos Correa 3B, Jose Altuve DH, Christian Walker 1B, Yainer Diaz C, Ramón Urías 2B, Mauricio Dubón LF, Chas McCormick CF, Cam Smith RF.
Pitching: RHP Cristian Javier (NR)
Time: 8:10 p.m.
TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
Stat of the day: Crochet leads the majors in wins (13) and innings (148 ⅓) and paces the AL in ERA (2.24).
Notes: Crochet is 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against the Astros. He faced Houston twice last season while pitching for the Chicago White Sox and did not factor into the decision of a 5-4 win on Aug. 16 after allowing one run on four hits with nine strikeouts over four innings . . . Crochet has not taken the loss in any of his last 11 starts . . . Bregman will play in Houston for the first time since leaving the team as a free agent last offseason. Bregman was part of two World Series title teams in his nine seasons. “It’s going to be great,” Bregman said. “It’s going to be cool to be back in Houston playing against a really good ballclub. I look forward to going out there and competing with the guys and trying to get some wins.” . . . The Red Sox enter Monday four games behind the Blue Jays in the AL East and one game behind the Mariners for the first wild card spot.
Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com.
