Boston at Houston

No use backing the sad-sack Red Sox these days. A $200-million dollar payroll just doesn't buy what it used to! Management has done a terrible job constructing an expensive team with little pitching and awful defensively in the field. The Red Sox have been outscored 34-9 while dropping six in a row to the Los Angeles Angels and the Astros since the All-Star break. Red Sox lefty Wade Miley (4.49 ERA) is no stopper with a losing road record where he's walked 29 in 58 innings, a terrible ratio. The Red Sox are 2-5 when Miley has five days of rest, and the Astros are 5-0 at home against a left-handed starter. Houston bashed three home runs, two by Preston Tucker, in Wednesday’s 4-2 triumph. The Astros are on a 24-8 run at home, including 23-9 at home against a team with a losing record. Houston has a fine arm going in young Lance McCullers (4-3, 2.52 ERA), so grab home field. Play Houston.