Red Sox at Astros Lineups: Why Not Us?

The American League Championship Series between the Red Sox and Astros begins tonight at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. First pitch of Game One is scheduled for 8:07 pm on FOX.

The Astros rolled through their divisional series matchup with the Chicago White Sox, taking three of four games by at least five runs. Boasting a lineup as deep as any you’ll find in the majors these days and an innate ability to evolve from good to great when the calendar flips to October, Houston looks, in a word, terrifying.

Boston enters this series overmatched on paper, but hey, they were underdogs in the Division Series against the Rays too. It’s odd to feel like we are both playing with house money and have expectations for them to be competitive, but I’m just embracing the moment. I never expected it, but we’re here and the Red Sox have an opportunity to shock the baseball world and play for a pennant. So why not us?

The Lance McCullers-less Astros will send Framber Valdez to the mound to square off with Chris Sale this evening, who will seek to redeem a disastrous one-inning, five-run start against the Rays one week ago today. Here’s how both teams will line up tonight.