After winning their first game of the 2026 MLB season, the Boston Red Sox enter Wednesday’s series finale against the Houston Astros with a 1-4 record and looking to halt a four-game losing streak after a 9-2 defeat the night before.
Boston’s struggles continued on the mound Tuesday, as Brayan Bello allowed five earned runs with the Astros' lineup powering through and Bello lasting 4.2 innings.
The Red Sox managed just one hit through five innings on offense, scored their first run of the game in that frame, and only added another one already too late, in the eighth inning.
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With the series ending at Daikin Park in Houston on Wednesday, Boston announced its lineup with catcher Carlos Narvaez behind the plate before a late change altered those plans.
Narvaez was scratched roughly two and a half hours before first pitch and replaced by Connor Wong, prompting questions about the reasoning behind the decision.
Manager Alex Cora acknowledged the move but declined to provide any details, per MassLive's Christopher Smith.
“Let’s keep it between me and Carlos,” Cora said. “And he understands. This is something that happens on every club. It just happens to be early in the season and I think it’s the right thing to do.”
Cora added that the decision was made after a conversation with the catcher.
“I just made a change,” Cora said. “I talked to Carlos a little bit and we move on from there. So it’s one of those that I felt like we needed to make the change in the lineup. And I think it’s for the best.”
Narvaez, 25, has opened the season hitting 4-for-9 across three games, while Wong enters Wednesday's game 3-for-7.
Boston will close the series, with Garrett Crochet scheduled to start against Houston’s Mike Burrows and the first pitch scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET.
