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TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Aug 27

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While We’re Young (Ideas) | A Look at the NE Patriots’ Tough Road

By TERRY LYONS

FOXBORO – After missing a few concert dates in Philadelphia, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band came back as strong as ever on Thursday night and they’ll be icing the guitar strings by the time you read this (on Saturday night or Sunday morning) after their second of two shows in New England.

The rock show stage and equipment trucks will head to Met Life Stadium on Sunday but the real question is whether the New England Patriots can bounce back as quickly as Springsteen did.

In two of three preseason games, the Patriots couldn’t break 10 points, the last coming Friday night, a 23-7 loss at Tennessee (hardly the strength of the AFC). New England previously fell, 20-7, to Houston and – in between – they managed a 21-17 victory at Green Bay, hardly the Pack of old. Only the Houston Texans game was at Gillette Stadium.

The old adage is to never put much stock in NFL preseason games, as second stringers battle for roster positions and veterans sit-out for health reasons and load management, but the main issue facing the Patriots as summer preseason games fade to opening day is a dose of reality – a reality speech you won;t hear on Boston sports talk radio or on WBZ-TV.

The fact of the matter is New England has a very tough schedule over the first eight weeks of the NFL regular season.

The Patriots open with two home games, against Philadelphia and Miami. A split would be an admirable outcome. From there, it gets dicey, especially with the fact four of the next six games are on the road. Here’s a quick look at the opening eight:

  • Sept. 10 – vs Philadelphia
  • Sept. 17 – vs. Miami
  • Sept. 24 – at NY Jets
  • Oct. 1 – at Dallas
  • Oct. 8 – vs New Orleans
  • Oct. 15 – at Las Vegas
  • Oct. 22 – vs Buffalo
  • Oct. 29 – at Miami

It’s entirely within reason that the New England Patriots start the year (1-7) or, ahem, (0-8) and with their highest hopes of being – (4-4) after eight weeks.

At the tail-end of the regular season, it doesn’t look any better, as the Patriots will face the two toughest teams in the AFC and two teams on the rise. Their “final four” schedule is as follows:

  • Dec. 18 – vs Kansas City
  • Dec. 24 – at Denver
  • Dec. 31 – at Buffalo
  • Jan. 7 – vs NY Jets

Two of the huge unknowns of this NFL season are within the AFC East.

  1. Will QB Aaron Rodgers and an improved NYJ offense warrant a playoff spot?
  2. Will the Miami Dolphins continue to improve and can oft-injured QB Tua Tagovailoa stay healthy, take the next step and compete with Buffalo and New York for the AFC East Divsional title?

The prediction here is for Buffalo to dominate the division but for the NY Jets to step-up to No. 2 and a playoff berth. The Dolphins and Patriots are likely to be (8-8, at best) and receive the home version of the game by New Year’s Eve.

Rodgers’ impact – as seen in this year’s HARD KNOCKS – is clearly evident. His throws remain effortless and his tutelage to young NYJ QB Zach Wilson might put the J-E-T-S’ quarterback situation amongst the NFL elite for a decade to come. Meanwhile, New England’s QB Mac Jones will face increasing pressure – both on and off the field – as the New England faithful long for the halcyon days of Tom Brady. Even the wizardry of Patriots coach Bill Belichick can’t team poise and performance under pressure. He’ll have to rely on defensive techniques and let the man who wears the “Mac” in the pouring rain, be very strained.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: The ink is barely dry on the final boxscore as the United States’ men’s senior national basketball team opened the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup with a 99-72 win over New Zealand on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines. The USA is in Group C, and will face Greece on Monday (8:40am ET) and Jordan (the country, not the guy) on Wednesday (4:40am ET). Both games can be seen on ESPN2 or ESPN+ (streaming). The U.S.A. is seeking its sixth FIBA Men’s World Cup gold medal, winning in 2010 and 2014 but losing-out to Spain for the gold in 2006 and 2019. … In Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s first go-round with the NBA-level players back in the ‘06 Worlds in Japan, the USA was upset in the semifinals by Greece. In 2019, the US lost to both France and Serbia to finish in 7th Place under newly inducted Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich. … Golden State’s Steve Kerr is in the drivers’ seat this summer and he has a stacked coaching staff and a talented roster of young players. Only the lack of high-level international experience can come between the USA and gold, or maybe an equally stacked Team Canada who ran the French team off the court Friday (Sat in Asia) with a 95-65 thrashing. Might they be singing “Oh Canada” when the FIBA Cup finals roll around on September 10th?

TID-BITS: Doesn’t the career arc of Phil Mickelson reflect the career arc of Rudy Giuliani (minus the recent State of Georgia indictment)? … A bad night on Chicago’s South Side has given a whole new meaning to the phrase “Bloody Sox.” Police in Chicago are investigating a shooting that left two women with non-life-threatening injuries Friday night at Guaranteed Rate Field as the White Sox lost to the Oakland Athletics. In a statement issued early Saturday, the White Sox confirmed the incident and said it was unclear whether the women, who were in outfield seats in left field, were struck by bullets that came from inside or outside the park. Chicago police said one woman, 42, sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, listed in fair condition. The other woman, 26, was grazed by a bullet to the abdomen but declined medical attention. In its statement, the team implied the incident was unprovoked. “While the police continue to investigate, White Sox security confirms that this incident did not involve an altercation of any kind,” the team said. “The White Sox are thinking of the victims at this time and wishing them a speedy recovery.”

BC OPENER: The Notre Dame v Navy (in Ireland) score will be in the books by the time you read this, but the bulk of College Football games will be played next weekend with games beginning Thursday night. On Saturday, September 2, the Boston College Eagles will open their 2023 season at home against an always tough Northern Illinois Huskies squad. BC opens with three home games, the third against potential ACC champion Florida State. That said, the September 16 (Noon) game on ABC will be the annual “Red Bandana” game. Look out Seminoles!

PGA TOUR Championship: Tune-in (CBS) Sunday for the grand-finale of the 2023 PGA Tour season when the TOUR Championship determines the winner of the FedEx Cup Playoffs and an $18 million haul. … The golfers will continue playing in a Fall schedule of PGA Tour events, and they’ll begin to accumulate FedEx Cup points towards the 2024 title. … The next, call it REAL serious pro golf tournament, will take place in Rome, Italy when the Ryder Cup is up for grabs (Sept. 29-Oct.1).

WHEN YOU THINK OF IT: The next few weeks will include some of the most anticipated sporting events of the year. Here’s a quick list – top of mind:

  • FIBA World Cup of Basketball
  • TOUR Championship/FedEx Cup Playoffs Finale
  • Opening of NCAA College Football
  • Opening of NFL regular season
  • US Open Tennis
  • Rugby World Cup
  • Conclusion of 2023 MLB Season
  • MLB Post Season
  • MLB World Series
  • Solheim Cup
  • Ryder Cup Golf
  • Pan American Games (Chile)

PGA Tour: FedEx Cup Finale

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ATLANTA – Viktor Hovland recorded a third-round (66) in his fourth consecutive start at the TOUR Championship. Hovland has qualified every year since joining the TOUR in 2020 and now holds a six stroke lead to tie the largest 54-hole lead in the FedExCup starting strokes era. The previous best: Scottie Scheffler/2022/Finished T-2).

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Hovland moved to No. 2 in the FedEx Cup standings after winning last week’s BMW Championship, his fifth career TOUR victory. He can become the fourth player in history to win the BMW Championship and FedExCup in the same season, joining Tiger Woods (2007, 2009), Billy Horschel (2014) and Patrick Cantlay (2021).

Making his seventh consecutive start at the TOUR Championship, Xander Schauffele (2nd/-14) posted a (68) for his 24th under-par score in 27 career rounds at East Lake Golf Club. He has finished inside the Top 10 in all six TOUR Championship appearances, including his victory in 2017.

The 36-hole co-leader – Collin Morikawa (T3/-13) – struggled to a (73) after sitting bogey free through 36 holes; career-best finish in the FedEx Cup: 6th/2020

In his first TOUR Championship appearance since 2018, Keegan Bradley (T3/-13) posted even par with birdies on two of his final four holes.

Red Sox Try to Slow 20-3 Dodgers

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Los Angeles Dodgers will look to continue their hot August when they play the middle contest of a three-game road series against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon. Los Angeles is 20-3 this month after registering a come-from-behind, 7-4 win Friday in the series opener.

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While Freddie Freeman had four hits and three runs, the return of Mookie Betts for his first-ever road game in Boston was the major story. The former Red Sox star doubled and scored twice.

“I had the time of my life playing here. I think a lot of people do,” said Betts, who was traded to the Dodgers in February 2020 after winning a World Series and an American League MVP trophy with the Red Sox in 2018. “I knew every day you put the uniform on, you’ve got to play well, no matter what. Or the fans, the people, will let you know. … That’s why I enjoyed it.”

Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias (11-6, 4.15 ERA) will aim for his fifth consecutive win when he takes the ball on Saturday. He is 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in five starts since his last loss, on July 19 at Baltimore.

Urias, the reigning National League ERA champion, has pitched seven innings in back-to-back outings, matching his career high. Last Saturday against the Miami Marlins, he yielded one run on five hits and no walks with five strikeouts.

The southpaw’s hot streak also includes a 12-strikeout performance against the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 13.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “You can really finish strong and make it a great year. There’s still plenty of baseball left.”

Urias has made just one career regular-season appearance against Boston, pitching two perfect innings of relief on July 13, 2019. He also pitched three times out of the bullpen against the Red Sox in the 2018 World Series, giving up one run in three innings.

The Red Sox had won five of their past seven games before falling on Friday, a stretch that featured a 17-1 win at Houston in which they set season-high marks for runs and hits (24).

On Friday, Alex Verdugo and Trevor Story homered to help Boston’s 14-hit attack, but it wasn’t enough.

“Obviously, there for like a month and a half, we struggled in the power department,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “But lately some of the big boys are finding their stroke and hitting the ball in the air and out of the ballpark.”

For Story, it was his first homer of the season in his 14th game. He missed the first 112 games while recovering from right elbow surgery.

“I feel like we’re at the point where we’re playing a lot of really good teams,” he said. “We’re going to find out who we are and if we’re going to be in the postseason.”

Boston southpaw James Paxton (7-4, 3.79 ERA) will make the start on Saturday. He has pitched at least five innings in 13 of his 17 starts this year, but he took a loss after allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits across four frames on Monday against the Astros.

Paxton has been excellent at home this season, pitching to a 2.58 ERA in 38 1/3 innings. In two career starts against the Dodgers, HE is 1-0 with a 4.85 ERA in 13 innings.

–Field Level Media

Mookie, Dodgers Down Red Sox, 7-4

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – LA’s Freddie Freeman went 4-for-5 with a go-ahead RBI double and three runs scored to lead the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers to a come-from-behind, 7-4 win over the Boston Red Sox in Friday night’s series opener.

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Dodgers’ third baseman Max Muncy had two hits and three RBIs, while former Red Sox OF Mookie Betts doubled and scored twice in his first game as a visitor in Boston, helping the Dodgers to their third straight win and 20th of 23 in August games.

L.A. starter Lance Lynn (10-9) won despite working around 10 hits and three earned runs in six innings.

Evan Phillips notched his 20th save with a scoreless ninth.

Five Red Sox got multiple hits, including OF Alex Verdugo (who was traded for Betts) and SS Trevor Story who both homered.

Verdugo deposited the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning into the bullpen for his second homer in three games.

The Red Sox lead increased to 3-0 in the second as Story hit a two-run homer into the first section of Green Monster Seats. It was Story’s first this season after he missed the first 112 games (right elbow UCL repair).

After allowing a leadoff single in the third, Boston starter Kutter Crawford struck out four straight and five of the next six batters to help him complete five innings of two-run, four-hit ball.

Crawford moved through a 1-2-3 fifth before the visitors struck for three runs in the sixth. A Betts double off the Monster and Freeman’s knock to left started the rally, ending the Boston starter’s day.

With Nick Pivetta (9-7) in, Will Smith’s line double to left got L.A. on the board. Muncy’s RBI grounder made it 3-2, and former Red Sox Enrique Hernandez lined a game-tying base hit to center.

The Dodgers took the lead in the seventh when Freeman ripped a double into left-center that rolled towards the warning track. Two batters later, Muncy lined a two-out, two-run double to plate two more for a 6-3 lead.

Lynn departed with no outs and two on in the seventh, and Brusdar Graterol worked out of the jam. He allowed just one run to score caused by a Muncy throwing error on Justin Turner’s force out.

David Peralta’s sacrifice fly gave the Dodgers another insurance run in the ninth.

–Field Level Media

Morikawa, Hovland Surge to Lead after 36

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ATLANTA – With birdies on his final two holes, Collin Morikawa opened with rounds of 61-64 –(125) to break the TOUR Championship 36-hole scoring record of 127, previously set by Tiger Woods in 2007.

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Tying Morikawa on the leaderboard, but not with a TOUR record-setting performance, Viktor Hovland recorded a second-round 64 in his fourth consecutive start at the TOUR Championship and sits (68-64 and -16) after starting at (-8) and the No. 2 slot in the FedEx Cup standings after winning last week’s BMW Championship.

Scottie Scheffler (3rd place) enters the weekend two shots back, marking the second time in the FedEx Cup starting strokes era that the No. 1 seed entering the week has not held at least a share of the 36-hole lead (Justin Thomas/2019).

With two great rounds in the 60s (63-67), Travelers Championship winner Keegan Bradley sits in 4th place heading into the weekend. The favorite son of New England plays well in the Georgia sun.

Making his seventh consecutive start at the TOUR Championship, Xander Schauffele (T5) carded a second-round (64) to reach 12-under, recording his 23rd of 26 career rounds under par in the event.

With a 3-under 67, three-time FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy (7th) recorded his 30th consecutive round at par or better on TOUR, the longest active current streak. McIlroy is looking to become the first back-to-back FedEx Cup champion.

Whole Lotta Golf is ahead and they’ll tee it up for third round at 12:21pm today at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta,

TOUR Championship | Leaderboard After 36 Holes

T1 Viktor Hovland – 68-64 (-16)

T1 Collin Morikawa – 61-64 (-16)

3 Scottie Scheffler – 71-65 (-14)

4 Keegan Bradley – 63-67 (-13)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

Morikawa, Hovland Lead TOUR Champ

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ATLANTA – With birdies on his final two holes, Collin Morikawa opened with rounds of 61-64 –(125) to break the TOUR Championship 36-hole scoring record of 127, previously set by Tiger Woods in 2007.

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Tying Morikawa on the leaderboard, but not with a TOUR record-setting performance, Viktor Hovland recorded a second-round 64 in his fourth consecutive start at the TOUR Championship and sits (68-64 and -16) after starting at (-8) and the No. 2 slot in the FedEx Cup standings after winning last week’s BMW Championship.

Scottie Scheffler (3rd place) enters the weekend two shots back, marking the second time in the FedEx Cup starting strokes era that the No. 1 seed entering the week has not held at least a share of the 36-hole lead (Justin Thomas/2019).

With two great rounds in the 60s (63-67), Travelers Championship winner KeeganBradley sits in 4th place heading into the weekend. The favorite son of New England plays well in the Georgia sun.

Making his seventh consecutive start at the TOUR Championship, Xander Schauffele(T5) carded a second-round (64) to reach 12-under, recording his 23rd of 26 career rounds under par in the event.

With a 3-under 67, three-time FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy (7th) recorded his 30th consecutive round at par or better on TOUR, the longest active current streak. McIlroy is looking to become the first back-to-back FedEx Cup champion.

Whole Lotta Golf is ahead and they’ll tee it up for third round at 12:21pm today at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta,

TOUR Championship | Leaderboard After 36 Holes

T1 Viktor Hovland – 68-64 (-16)

T1 Collin Morikawa – 61-64 (-16)

3 Scottie Scheffler – 71-65 (-14)

4 Keegan Bradley – 63-67 (-13)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

It’s Raining on Mookie’s Return

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FENWAY – The rain might wash out Mookie Betts‘ return to Fenway Park.

In better weather, thousands of familiar faces would return to the Fens when the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game series against the Red Sox tonight. The Dodgers last visited Boston in 2019 when a July weekend series marked the only other meeting between the teams since the 2018 World Series.

Highlighting the Dodgers’ returnees is star outfielder is Betts, the 2018 American League MVP who has never played in Boston as a visitor. He was traded to Los Angeles along with pitcher David Price in February 2020. The Red Sox got back three players, two are still regulars for them, outfielder Alex Verdugo and catcher Connor Wong.

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“This will be my first time going back since 2019. I’m really nervous,” Betts said on his Bleacher Report podcast this week. “It’s more just that I haven’t been back in so long. It’s where I grew up, and I don’t know what to expect. … I think it will be fun.”

Betts enters the weekend scorching hot after going 5-for-5 in the completion of a suspended game in Cleveland on Thursday and then 2-for-3 in the series finale that followed. The Dodgers won 6-1 and 9-3, respectively.

Right-hander Ryan Brasier and utility man Enrique Hernandez are two other former Red Sox players who are on the Dodgers’ active roster. Hernandez was just acquired from Boston on July 25.

“I’m sure Fenway is going to show up for (Betts),” Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale said.

The Dodgers will give the ball to 36-year-old Lance Lynn (9-9, 5.60 ERA) on Friday. Lynn is 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA in four starts (25 innings) since joining the Dodgers from the Chicago White Sox in a July 28 trade.

The right-hander, who has allowed a total of one earned run over his past three outings, scattered four hits across seven shutout innings in a no-decision on Aug. 17 against the Milwaukee Brewers. The eventual 1-0 win capped the Dodgers’ 11-game winning streak.

“I think this is kind of what we imagined at the beginning of the season with what our staff is and what it has been since I’ve been here,” Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes said. “Lance fills up hitters during the game. He’s been doing it for a long time.”

The Red Sox return home after dominating in a 17-1 win at Houston on Thursday, splitting a four-game series while earning their fifth victory in seven games.

The recent run has lifted Boston within 3 1/2 games of a playoff spot.

“A lot of people thought this season was over three days ago,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said, “but that’s not the case.”

Wilyer Abreu, Wong and Verdugo each had four hits, including a home run. For Abreu, it was the first long ball of his major league career. He made his debut on Tuesday after socking 22 homers in 86 games for Triple-A Worcester this season.

“There’s a reason he’s here,” Cora said. “(Worcester manager) Chad Tracy was very happy with the way he had been playing. He’s a good runner. He’s a good defender. He’s a good hitter.”

Boston right-hander Kutter Crawford (6-6, 3.66 ERA) is slated to make his first career appearance against the Dodgers.

Crawford pitched 5 1/3 no-hit innings before allowing a home run to the Yankees’ Aaron Judge in his latest start, on Saturday at New York. He wound up yielding just the one run and one hit while walking two and fanning five in six innings en route to an 8-1 win.

–Field Level Media

Morikawa Leads TOUR Championship

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ATLANTA – Collin Morikawa opened with career-low (61) in only his 98th PGA TOUR start. He set the tournament record for lowest opening round in this event. Morikawa has not won on TOUR since the 2020-21 season.

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Keegan Bradley, winner of the 2023 Travelers, recorded his lowest score in 17 rounds at the TOUR Championship, shooting (63).

Viktor Hovland stroked his second first-round lead/co-lead in individual stroke play events on TOUR, but is 0-for-1 in converting to victory. He moved to No. 2 in the FedEx Cup standings after winning last week’s BMW Championship, his fifth career TOUR victory.

Adam Schenk’s (63) lifted him to No. 5 on the Leaderboard. He is (-8) and only two strokes off the lead.

TOUR Championship | Leaderboard After 18 Holes

T1 Collin Morikawa 61 (-9)

T1 Keegan Bradley 63 (-7)

T1 Viktor Hovland 68 (-2)

4. Scottie Scheffler 71 (+1)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

FedEx Cup Standings: (link)

Red Sox Drub Astros, 17-1

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HOUSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Wilyer Abreu clubbed his first big-league home run and was one of eight Red Sox batters to record multiple hits as the visiting Sox cruised to a 17-1 drubbing of the Houston Astros on Thursday afternoon.

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Abreu went 4-for-5 with four RBIs, two runs and a walk. Connor Wong and Alex Verdugo – the duao acquired in the Sox trade for Mookie Betts years ago – also had four hits and five other players had two apiece for the Red Sox, who earned a split of the four-game series.

All nine batters in Boston’s starting lineup recorded at least one RBI and at least one of the club’s season-high 24 hits. The offensive showcase provided more than enough run support for Red Sox starter Brayan Bello (10-7), who gave up one run on nine hits in seven innings.

Alex Bregman drove in Houston’s lone run with a single. Mauricio Dubon doubled twice for the Astros, who went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base. The 16-run deficit is tied for the largest in Astros history.

Duvall Leads Red Sox to Split

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HOUSTON – (Staff and wire Service Report) – After fouling a pitch directly off his left foot in the top of the 10th inning on Wednesday, Boston Red Sox center fielder Adam Duvall needed more than a couple of minutes to recover from the searing pain.

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His decision to stay in the fight paid immediate dividends for Boston. Duvall clubbed a tiebreaking, three-run home run on the next pitch of his at-bat to carry the Red Sox to a 7-5 victory over the host Houston Astros, a win that keeps Boston squarely in the American League wild-card picture.

Duvall has homered in each of the first three games of this four-game series, which concludes Thursday afternoon. His 14th long ball of the season was the biggest by far.

“He’s made some adjustments,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Duvall. “He’s catching up with the fastball and he’s pulling the ball. He mentioned a few weeks ago that he was missing that, and so far here he’s put three great swings. That was huge for us.”

Brayan Bello (9-7, 3.70 ERA) will start for the Red Sox on Thursday as Boston attempts to gain a series split.

The right-hander allowed one run on six hits and one walk with four strikeouts over six innings on Friday against the New York Yankees in an 8-3 victory. That lowered his ERA to 5.03 in seven starts since the All-Star break, a contrast to his last 12 starts before the break, when he compiled a 2.35 ERA. Bello leads the Red Sox in starts (21) and innings (119 1/3) this season.

Bello has faced the Astros once previously, recording two strikeouts while allowing two hits in two-thirds of an innings of relief in a no-decision on Aug. 3, 2022.

Rookie right-hander J.P. France (9-4, 2.75 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Astros on Thursday.

He recorded his 12th quality start on Friday against the Seattle Mariners, allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over six innings in a 2-0 loss. France is among rookie leaders in quality starts, wins, opponents’ OPS (.675), innings (108) and WHIP (1.21). His ERA is the lowest in franchise history through the first 18 career appearances (minimum six starts).

France will face the Red Sox for the first time in his career.

The Astros are in desperate need of length from France, who has logged seven innings in four of his previous six starts. The last Astros starter to record at least 21 outs was Framber Valdez on Aug. 14 against the Miami Marlins, a game in which the Astros used only one relief pitcher.

In the eight games since, the Astros have used at least four relievers six times.

France and Justin Verlander, who tossed six scoreless innings on Tuesday, are the only starters to log at least six innings during that stretch, with Houston having to overwork its bullpen to cover for shortened outings from Cristian Javier (4 2/3 innings on Aug. 15 at Miami), Hunter Brown (2 2/3 innings on Sunday against Seattle) and Jose Urquidy, who recorded only 14 outs Wednesday.

“We need it,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said of an extended outing from France to spare the bullpen. “We were upside down (Wednesday). We got upside down early in the 13-game streak (of games played on consecutive days) and we had a couple short outings, which put pressure on the bullpen. We’re at the drawing board now trying to figure out what we’re going to do.”