After the Boston Red Sox defeated the Houston Astros 6-5 on Tuesday to tie the series at one game apiece, the two teams will meet Wednesday afternoon at Minute Maid Park for the final game of the season.
For the matchup, Boston is sending Cooper Criswell to the mound while Houston is countering with Justin Verlander.
Here's Alex Cora's lineup for the finale:
- Jarren Duran CF
- Wilyer Abreu RF
- Triston Casas 1B
- Rafael Devers 3B
- Rob Refsnyder LF
- Masataka Yoshida DH
- Connor Wong C
- David Hamilton 2B
- Ceddanne Rafaela SS
And, here's Joe Espada's:
- Alex Bregman DH
- Yordan Alvarez LF
- Yainer Diaz 1B
- Jeremy Pena SS
- Victor Caratini C
- Jake Meyers CF
- Mauricio Dubon 2B
- Shay Whitcomb 3B
- Chas McCormick RF
Criswell has been all right for Boston this season, posting a 4.56 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP while striking out 57 batters in 19 appearances (10 starts). He allowed six runs in his lone start since returning from the COVID-19 list. He's never pitched against a single member of the Astros' lineup.
Verlander has been good for Houston in his 10 starts this year, posting a 3.95 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP while striking out 51 batters. He's allowed exactly four runs in three of his last five starts. Four Red Sox have recorded hits against him in his career - Rafael Devers (2-for-12 with two home runs, five RBIs and a walk), Rob Refsnyder (2-for-2 with an RBI), Connor Wong (1-for-2) and Masataka Yoshida (1-for-3).
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