Red Sox players in the dugout during Game Two against the Astros. (Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Red Sox and Astros split the first two games of the ALCS in Boston and, now, they're in Houston, where they split their four-game set early in the regular season.
The Sox boasted the second-best road record in all of baseball at 51-30, but tonight's starter and Houston-area native Nathan Eovaldi isn't taking anything for granted.
"If I go out there and do my job, you know, attack the zone, get that first pitch strike, not give up any free walks, things like that, I feel like that'll keep the crowd out of it a little bit," Eovaldi said. "But I know they're gonna be loud here, with the roof closed and stuff it gets even louder."
Eovaldi limited the Yankees to one run over seven innings in Game 3 of the ALDS.
Astros will counter with Dallas Keuchel, who's sure to present a challenge for Andrew Benintendi and the rest of the Sox.
"He's tough," Benintendi said. "He's got a lot of movement on his fastball, nothing's really straight. I haven't really faced him too many times, but he's very good. He keeps the ball down in the zone and gets a lot of ground balls. It's always a fun challenge to face him."
Active Sox players have collectively hit .252 with 5 homers in 123 career at-bats against Keuchel. He's posted a 9.15 ERA in four lifetime appearances against Boston. He hasn't pitched in eight days.
Somewhat surprisingly, Eduardo Nunez is expected back in the lineup for Game 3 in place of Rafael Devers.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) reports