WALKING THE TIGHTROPE
Another high-wire night could be in store for Astros and Red Sox
Aug 12, 2025, 11:39 am
WALKING THE TIGHTROPE

The Astros look to keep their momentum rolling at home Tuesday night as they continue their series with the Boston Red Sox in a matchup that carries weight in both leagues’ playoff races. Houston has quietly built a three-game win streak at Daikin Park, finding ways to win tight games and generate timely offense. They’ll aim to make it four behind rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti, who’s still searching for consistent rhythm at the big-league level but will have the crowd at his back.
Arrighetti (1-2, 7.43 ERA) draws a challenge in a Boston lineup that’s had the upper hand in the season series, winning three of four meetings so far. The Red Sox counter with right-hander Dustin May, whose results have been streaky but who has shown flashes of dominance when his command is on.
Houston’s offense once again leans on Jose Altuve, who has 21 home runs and 63 RBIs, while Christian Walker has heated up with extra-base power over the last 10 games. For Boston, Trevor Story leads the charge with 73 RBIs, and Romy Gonzalez has been one of the American League’s hottest hitters in August.
The Astros’ winning formula this season has been simple — keep the ball in the yard. They’re 31-7 in games where they haven’t allowed a home run. The Red Sox follow their own blueprint, becoming almost impossible to beat when their bats come alive, posting a 42-12 record when scoring five or more runs.
With Houston clinging to a slim AL West lead (1 game) and Boston looking to keep pace in the AL East, Tuesday’s contest has all the makings of another charged night under the lights, where every pitch could shift the October picture.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -117, Red Sox -103; over/under is 8 1/2 runs.
Injury updates and roster moves
Astros closer Josh Hader is heading to the 15-day IL with a left shoulder strain. RHP Shawn Dubin has been reinstated from the 15-day IL. LHP Colton Gordon has been recalled from Triple A and RHP Hector Neris has been designated for assignment.
We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/GFi4o7UKnp
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 12, 2025
MLB.com's Brian McTaggart shared some more updates in the post below
Some updates from Espada:
- No word on the severity of Hader’s injury.
- Garcia will start in Sugar Land tomorrow and McCullers on Friday.
- Alvarez hit on the field today in Florida today and could take live BP this weekend.
- Meyers is getting close to getting into games…
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 12, 2025
Astros lineup takeaways
Super lineup.
⚾️: 7:10pm
🏟️: Closed
📺: @SpaceCityHN | SCHN2
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 | Spanish: 93.3 FM#BuiltForThis x @reliantenergy pic.twitter.com/JCIUuNCavx
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 12, 2025
The top 3 in the lineup remains the same, with Pena (SS) leading off, followed by Correa (3B), and Altuve (DH). Jesus Sanchez will hit cleanup and play right field, with Christian Walker now in the 5-spot playing first base. Yainer Diaz will hit sixth and catch, with Taylor Trammell batting seventh and playing left. Ramon Urias (2B) is back in the lineup after a huge game on Monday night, he'll hit eighth. Finally, Jacob Melton returns hitting ninth and playing center field.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.
