Houston @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 3, 2018 ) Boston 9, Houston 3

The Boston Red Sox are barreling toward 100 wins, the American League East title and the best record in the majors, but up next is the team that ended their 2017 season. The Houston Astros, who beat the Red Sox in the American League Divisional Series en route to winning the World Series last year, open a three-game series in Boston on Friday night.

The Astros arrive at Fenway Park having won five in a row and holding a 3 1/2-game lead over second-place Oakland in the AL West. Red-hot Alex Bregman homered for the fourth time in five games and had five RBIs in Wednesday's 9-1 drubbing of Minnesota to extend his on-base streak to 33 consecutive games. The Red Sox completed a seven-game road trip with a three-game sweep in Atlanta, capping the trek by erasing a six-run deficit in Wednesday's 9-8 victory. Brandon Phillips, the hero of Wednesday's win with a game-winning two-run homer in his Boston debut, is 11-for-25 lifetime against Gerrit Cole, who matches up against David Price on Friday night.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Gerrit Cole (13-5, 2.86 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH David Price (14-6, 3.60)

Cole stumbled out of the All-Star break by going 0-3 in his first four starts, but he has bounced back by permitting nine earned runs over his last four outings and posting a 3-0 mark in that span. He won his second straight start Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels, striking out nine and giving up two runs over 5 2/3 innings. Cole beat Boston with seven innings of three-run ball on June 1.

Price returns after missing one start, the result of taking a line drive off the wrist in the fourth inning of a no-decision against Miami on Aug. 29. That ended a superb stretch for the 33-year-old, who was 5-0 while rattling off seven consecutive quality starts. Catcher Brian McCann is 11-for-32 with three homers against Price, who tossed six innings of three-run ball to beat Houston on June 2.

WALK-OFFS

1. Bregman batted .486 with five homers, seven doubles and 17 RBIs over the just-concluded 10-game homestand.

2. Red Sox OF Mookie Betts, tied with teammate J.D. Martinez with a majors-best .335 batting average, is in a 1-for-12 rut.

3. The Astros are expected to activate RHP Charlie Morton (shoulder) off the disabled list to start Saturday's game.

PREDICTION: Astros 5, Red Sox 3