What also feels strange is how the Red Sox have taken the series already. I was nervous Friday with Cooper Criswell but he did excellent enough to keep the Red Sox in it. I wasn’t happy with Walker Buehler yesterday but the bullpen came in clutch and the offense launched three homers.

After a rocky start coming out of the All-Star break, the Red Sox are suddenly streaking again, winners of four straight and six of their last seven. Boston enters Sunday in second place in the AL East, having passed the Yankees both for that spot and for the first wild card position in the American League.

Matt Kawahara covers the Astros for the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at [email protected]. He joined the Chronicle in June 2023 after previously working a