How the Red Sox and Astros compare in key statistical categories
Houston had the best ERA in the league, but the Sox have advantages elsewhere.
The Red Sox had the best record in baseball this year at 108-54. The Houston Astros had the second-most wins with 103, and are the defending World Series champions. As the teams get set to play in the American League Championship Series, here’s a look at some of the numbers they posted.
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Here’s a closer look at each stat category.
Season series
■ The Astros took the season series, 4-3, with the teams splitting a four-game set at Minute Maid Park May 31-June 3, and Houston winning two out of three at Fenway Sept. 7-9. In both series, the Red Sox dropped the first two games but finished strong.
After dropping the first two games in Houston, the Red Sox bounced back behind strong pitching performances from David Price and Rick Porcello to salvage a split. With Mookie Betts on the disabled list, Andrew Benintendi moved up to the leadoff spot and homered in both games.
The Sox were able to avoid a sweep in Fenway when Mitch Moreland’s opposite-field single scored Tzu-Wei Lin from second base for a 6-5 win, snapping Houston’s seven-game winning streak.
Batting average
■ The Red Sox had the best team batting average in the league at .268. Most Valuable Player candidates Betts (.346) and J.D. Martinez (.330) finished 1-2 not just on the team, but for all of baseball. Benintendi (.290) and Xander Bogaerts (.288) were 30th and 33rd.
The Astros were fourth in the league with a .255 average, led by second baseman Jose Altuve’s .316. First baseman Yuli Gurriel hit .291 and third baseman Alex Bregman hit .286.
Home runs
■ Both teams surpassed 200 home runs. Martinez (43) and Betts (32) combined for 75 of the Red Sox’ 208 home runs, while Bogaerts added 23 and Rafael Devers had 21.
Bregman had 31 of the Astros’ 205 home runs, while Evan Gattis smacked 25 and George Springer added 22.
ERA
■ Houston had the best ERA in the league (3.11), with Game 1 starter Justin Verlander coming in at 2.52 and Game 2 starter Gerrit Cole at 2.88.
Red Sox Game 1 starter Chris Sale posted a 2.11 ERA, while closer Craig Kimbrel had a 2.74 ERA to go with his 42 saves.
Strikeouts
■ Verlander (290) and Cole (276) combined for 566 of Houston’s league-leading 1,687 strikeouts. Charlie Morton had 201 and Dallas Keuchel 153.
Sale led the Sox with 237 strikeouts, averaging 13.5 per nine innings. Rick Porcello was second on the team with 190, followed by David Price with 177.
