The Houston Astros begin a pivotal nine-game road trip on Friday against the Boston Red Sox, with Jose Altuve emerging as one of the hottest hitters in the American League. Altuve’s impressive July performance has been a key factor as the Astros look to regain momentum following a difficult stretch.

Altuve’s Strong Offensive Performance in July

Altuve’s recent form was on full display Wednesday when he contributed four hits, highlighted by a three-run homer, helping Houston secure a 9-1 victory over Washington. Over July, Altuve hit .363, collecting 33 hits in 91 at-bats, including seven doubles, five home runs, and driving in 21 runs across 24 games. This surge in productivity marks a significant turnaround after a slow start to the season.

Basically, I’m getting good pitches to hit,

Altuve said.

Early in the season, I was swinging at pretty much everything. I didn’t really focus on the pitch I can handle and I think that was what was different this last month.

—Jose Altuve, Astros second baseman

Astros Regain Offensive Firepower After Struggles

The Astros endured a five-game losing streak during which they managed just eight runs, but have bounced back strongly, scoring 16 runs in their last two games. Houston manager Joe Espada credited the team’s resilience and quality at-bats for the turnaround.

We were going through a stretch there where things were not going our way, but our guys are going to push and we figured out a way to score runs,

Espada said.

The quality of at-bats were there back-to-back days.

—Joe Espada, Astros manager

Recent Trades Bolster Astros’ Roster for the Road Trip

Houston made notable additions before this stretch, acquiring infielder Carlos Correa from Minnesota on Thursday. Correa, who spent his first seven MLB seasons with the Astros before joining the Twins, expressed excitement about playing third base again at this point in his career.

We were waiting for a shortstop to come in (with the Twins) and now that I get to play third base, it will be great for me at this stage of my career,

Correa said.

The Astros also strengthened their infield by adding Ramon Urias in a trade with Baltimore on Wednesday, and picked up outfielder Jesus Sanchez from Miami on Thursday.

Red Sox Enhance Pitching Staff Ahead of Series

Boston has also been active prior to the trade deadline, acquiring two pitchers to reinforce their rotation. Right-hander Dustin May was obtained from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, following the addition of lefty Steven Matz from St. Louis the day before. These moves aim to boost Boston’s pitching depth for games against the Astros and beyond.

Jarren Duran’s Consistent Hitting for Boston

Boston outfielder Jarren Duran has been contributing consistently, batting .317 in July with five home runs, three triples, nine doubles, and 21 RBIs over 23 games. Duran’s strong showing continued Wednesday in Boston’s 13-1 win over Minnesota, where he hit a homer and collected three hits.

He’s been good the whole month. You look at his numbers, the walks, driving the ball, playing good defense in center and left field, running the bases. He’s one of the most dynamic players in the big leagues and I’m glad he’s playing for us.

—Alex Cora, Boston Red Sox manager

Pitching Matchup and Roster Updates

The Astros will likely start right-hander Hunter Brown (9-5, 2.54 ERA) on Friday. Brown’s only appearance against the Red Sox came last August, where he allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings. Boston had not announced its starting pitcher for the opener at the time of the report.

The Astros are hopeful that All-Star shortstop Jeremy Pena, sidelined with a rib injury, will return in time for the game. Pena’s presence would be a significant boost as Houston looks to stabilize its lineup.

Alex Bregman’s Return Against Former Team Adds Intrigue

Friday’s matchup will also feature third baseman Alex Bregman facing his former team for the first time since signing with Boston in the offseason. Bregman was rested on Wednesday and previously played a vital role in helping the Astros capture World Series titles in 2017 and 2022, adding a personal storyline to the series opener.