Houston @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 25, 2013 ) Houston 2, Boston 7

The Boston Red Sox were picked by many, including oddsmakers in Las Vegas, to finish last in the American League East. It appeared the Red Sox - without the star power which carried them to a pair of World Series titles in 2004 and 2007 - would not keep up with its powerful rivals in arguably the toughest division in baseball. But they still have David Ortiz, who will try to continue his torrid start when the first-place Red Sox host the struggling Houston Astros on Friday.

Ortiz, who missed the first 15 games with heel injuries, went 3-for-4 and hit his first home run in Thursday's 7-2 victory. He is 11-for-20 with five RBIs in five contests. Boston also continues to get solid pitching as Clay Buchholz became the first five-game winner in baseball after striking out 10 in the series opener. Houston, which is 4-2 against Seattle and 3-13 versus everyone else, has lost six straight road games. Veterans Erik Bedard of the Astros and Ryan Dempster of the Red Sox square off in a battle of Canadians.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Houston, New England Sports Network (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Erik Bedard (0-1, 6.17 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Ryan Dempster (0-2, 3.38)

After earning his first career save by pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings in Houston's 8-2 victory over Texas to open the 2013 season, Bedard has recorded only 8 1/3 innings in three starts. He allowed two runs, six hits and struck out eight in four innings in his last outing, and was not charged with the 5-4 loss to Cleveland on Sunday. Bedard, who is 3-4 with a 5.19 ERA in 11 starts at Fenway Park, has held Ortiz (5-for-24, one homer, five strikeouts, six walks) in check.

Dempster has pitched pretty well while still searching for his first victory in a Boston uniform, although he allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings in a 4-2 loss to Kansas City on Sunday. He has 33 strikeouts in 24 innings, including 18 over his last two outings (14 innings). In 51 games (25 starts) against Houston, Dempster is 6-12 with a 4.32 ERA - and 16 saves during his years as the Cubs closer. Rick Ankiel is 2-for-16 with five strikeouts against Dempster.

WALK-OFFS

1. Boston OF Shane Victorino, who left Wednesday's game against Oakland with a back injury, did not play Thursday and is listed as day-to-day. Mike Carp started in his place and went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Victorino also departed Saturday's game against Kansas City with lower back tightness and did not play in Sunday's doubleheader.

2. Bedard was 1-2 with a 4.03 ERA in eight starts for the Red Sox in 2011 after being acquired at the trade deadline.

3. Boston closer Joel Hanrahan, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring, is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 3, Astros 2