Astros vs. Red Sox Game Thread: Game 33, 5/1/2026
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros(12-20) and Boston Red Sox (12-19) begin a 3-game weekend series at Fenway Park tonight.
RHP Mike Burrows (1-3, 6.25 ERA) will start for the Astros vs. LHP Jake Bennett(MLB debut). Tonight will be Burrows’ 1st start and 2nd career appearance at Fenway Park.
ABOUT BURROWS:RHP Mike Burrows, who is from Waterford, CT, will make his 7th start of the season tonight and his 2nd vs. BOS.
One month ago today, he earned his first win in an Astros uniform in a 6-4 victory over the Red Sox on April 1 in Houston (5 IP, 2 ER, 6 S0).
Punchouts: In his last 2 starts, Burrows has seen an uptick in his strikeout totals with 8 K’s in 5.0 IP in his last start on Saturday vs. NYY and 7 K’s in 4.2 IP in his April 19 start vs. STL.
Connecticut Connection: Burrows posted eye-opening numbers as a pitcher at Waterford High School, posting a 6-0 record in his senior year (2018) with an 0.38 ERA with 98 strikeouts in just 44.0 IP. He was a Red Sox fan while growing up.
ROSTER MOVE:Following yesterday’s doubleheader, RHP Jason Alexanderwas returned to Triple A Sugar Land. Alexander served as the Astros 27th man for the doubleheader.
VS THE SAWX:The Astros swept the Red Sox in a 3-game series at Daikin Park, Mar. 30-April 1.
Over the past 10 seasons (since 2017), HOU is 33-22 (.600) vs. BOS overall.
FUN AT FENWAY:Despite being swept in a 3-game series in their last visit here (Aug. 1-3), the Astros have had recent success at Fenway Park.
HOU has won 6 of their last 9 games at Fenway. Prior to last year’s series in Aug., HOU had swept the Red Sox in 2 consecutive visits to Fenway, Aug. 28-30 of 2023 and Aug. 9-11 of 2024 (both 3-game series).
Additionally, the Astros are 16-9 (.640) in the regular season at Fenway Park since 2017, which is the best win pct. in the Majors at this venue in that span (min. 10 games).
Houston is also 4-3 at Fenway all-time in the postseason.
ROADIES:Tonight is the 4th game (1-2 thus far) of a 6-game road trip for the Astros.
HOU was 1-2 in BAL on the first stop of the trip.
SPECIAL MOMENT:The first 2 members of the Astros Youth Academy to make it to the Major Leagues faced each other yesterday in BAL when Brice Matthews singled off Orioles ’ RHP Cameron Foster in the 5th inning of Game 2 of the DH. Matthews was called up to the Majors in 2025 while Foster made his debut in April of 2026.
PLAYER OF THE MONTH?: Yordan Alvarezis a strong candidate for the AL Player of the Month Award for March/April as he has had a torrid start to his season, currently leading, or tied for the lead, in the AL in all three Triple Crown categories – .356 BA, 12 HR, 27 RBI.
Additionally, Alvarez also leads the AL in OPS (1.199), SLG (.737), OBP (.462) and Total Bases (87) and is T-1st in WAR (2.0).
HISTORIC HOMERS:Yordan Alvarez is off to one of the most prolific starts in franchise history. His 12 HR through the club’s first 32 games of the season are the tied for 2nd-most in franchise history ( Lance Berkman, 13, 2002).
SOCKING THE SOX:Yordan Alvarez has some of the best career numbers in MLB history vs. the Red Sox (min. 130 PA)
Top BA vs. Red Sox (since 1901)
1. Yordan Alvarez – .417*
2. Will Clark– .403
3. Lyman Bostock– .386
Top OPS vs. Red Sox (since 1901)
1. Yordan Alvarez – 1.305*
2. Babe Ruth– 1.147
3. Lou Gehrig– 1.100
*includes postseason
ROAD WARRIOR:In 11 road games (8 starts) this season, Brice Matthewsis 10×31 (.323) with a HR, 7 RBI and 5 BB, slashing (.323/.417/.516) for a .933 OPS.
In his young career, Matthews is hitting .291 in 18 road games (14 starts) with 5 HR and 16 RBI with a .381 OBP and a .618 SLG (.999 OPS).
CLIMBING THE CHARTS:With 238 career HR, Jose Altuve needs one more to tie Lou Whitakerfor 7th place all-time among 2nd basemen. Altuve also needs 3 RBI to become the 5th player in franchise history to reach 900.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY:1969 – At just 24 years old, RHP Don Wilsonhurls his 2nd career no-hitter in a 4-0 win over the Reds at Crosley Field in Cincinnati . In his historic gem, Wilson tallies 13 K’s. Ironically, the Reds Jim Maloneyhad no-hit the Astros in the previous game. In 2019, Wilson was part of the very first class inducted into the Astros Hall of Fame (posthumously).
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, May 1, 6:10 p.m. CT
Location: Fenway Park, Boston , MA
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KTRH 740 AM, KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
