Boston @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 14, 2018 ) Houston 5, Boston 7

The Boston Red Sox got an MVP-like performance from one of their stars in Game 2 and managed to even the best-of-seven American League Championship Series at one win apiece. Mookie Betts and company now must win one of the next three games at the Houston Astros, beginning with Tuesday's Game 3.

Betts scored a pair of runs and drove in another in Sunday's 7-5 triumph as Boston's offense, which led the majors in batting average and runs scored during the regular season, woke up after a quiet Game 1. "I just go out and do what I can to help the team win, try and be consistent in having some good at-bats and getting some timely hits and whatnot," Betts told reporters. "But it's not just me. We've got 25 guys out here to win." The Astros made it as interesting as they could, with Alex Bregman representing the tying run and flying out to the warning track to end the game, and said they feel confident heading home. "We didn't play our best game today," Bregman told reporters after the loss. "We had a lot of traffic on the bases all night. We're going to keep putting pressure on them, keep competing, and if we do that, I like our chances."

TV: 5:09 p.m. ET, TBS

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Nathan Eovaldi (1-0,1.29 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (0-0, 3.60)

Eovaldi owns the only quality start among Boston pitchers in the postseason after dominating the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the AL Division Series. The 28-year-old scattered one run and five hits over seven innings while striking out five and not walking a batter. Eovaldi started at Houston as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays on June 20 and was knocked around for four runs on seven hits - four solo homers - in six innings to suffer the loss.

Keuchel surrendered two runs and four hits in five innings at Cleveland in Game 3 of the ALDS but did not factor in the decision in a game the Astros went onto win 11-3. The former Cy Young Award winner won his lone start against Boston in the 2017 ALDS but was not sharp against the Red Sox on Sept. 9, when he was knocked around for five runs and nine hits in six frames. Keuchel posted a 4-6 record with a 3.90 ERA in 16 home starts during the regular season.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Astros have homered in a postseason-record 14 consecutive games.

2. Boston LHP Chris Sale was hospitalized Sunday because of a stomach ailment and did not travel with the team but is expected to make his Game 5 start.

3. Houston OF George Springer went 2-for-5 in Game 2 to extend his postseason hitting streak to a franchise-record 11 straight games.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 8, Astros 2