Red Sox vs. Astros lineup: We (may) have a problem

The Red Sox try once again to solve the problem that is the Houston Astros tonight at Fenway Park (7:10 p.m., NESN) behind red-hot Nathan Eovaldi.

Eovaldi’s last time out, he went six strong against the Yankees, giving up two runs. In the words of Tim Curry in Clue, an old movie for olds, “I know because I was there.” I cannot tell you how great it was to be there, just as I cannot tell you how great it would be for the Sox to avoid the whips and scorns of Houston for once tonight, but you get the idea. The bright side for Sox fans is that Jake Odorizzi, who lasted three innings last time out against Boston, is not as good as he once was. If the odds were ever in our favor, it’s tonight.

Alex Verdugo is out of the lineup tonight, which isn’t ideal, nor is Danny Santana playing first and hitting the leadoff spot, but all of these things are happening nonetheless, as is Xander Bogaerts DHing, with Marwin Gonzalez manning short. Also Kiké Hernández has finally fulfilled his destiny, and is batting ninth, not that he’s any worse than Santana, but still.

The Astros also have a lineup. You can see it here: