McAdam: Three thoughts from the opener of the Red Sox-Astros series

HOUSTON -- Assorted thoughts from the Red Sox' 4-2 loss to Houston on Thursday night:

1. This was the supposed to be the easiest draw of the four-game series for the Red Sox offense.

With Gerrit Cole (2.05 ERA) set for Friday, the redoubtable Justin Verlander (1.11) on tap for Saturday and Charlie Morton (7-0, 2.26 ERA) lined up for the series finale Sunday, the Red Sox will not only be facing Houston's top three starters over the final three games, they'll be facing the three of the top four pitchers -- as measured by ERA -- in the American League.

In the opener, the Sox drew Lance McCullers, who's no slouch, but, as reflected by his 3.98 ERA, he was easily the most hittable starter in the Houston rotation.

The Red Sox came into the series first in runs scored, first in batting average, first in slugging percentage, first in extra-base hits, second in homers and second in OPS. But matched against McCullers, they managed just two runs.

How rare is that? Prior to Thursday, they had scored fewer than three runs just twice in the previous 35 games.

McCullers got plenty of help from the defense behind him, particularly from center fielder Jake Marisnick, who made two outstanding catches in center to twice take extra bases away from Red Sox hitters. But then, that's been part of the Astros' recipe for success -- they do most everything well and don't beat themselves.

It only gets tougher in terms of the starters lined up over the next three nights, and the Sox are tasked with getting better offensive output against three aces.

The Red Sox' haven't built their gaudy numbers against only Tampa, Baltimore, and Toronto — the three A.L. East bottom feeders. They tattooed the Angels pitching staff in a sweep in Anaheim and they've put up six or more runs in four of their six games against the Yankees.

But until they beat the best -- and Houston can claim not only the best pitching staff in the league but, as defending champs, the best team, period -- the Sox' numbers will be looked at with some skepticism.

2. The Red Sox have not handled the Mookie Betts injury situation well.

Understanding that injuries are often difficult to diagnose and to project a timetable for, the Sox almost certainly would have been better off placing Betts on the DL on Sunday when this happened.

Every day, manager Alex Cora provides a general update, which suggests that Betts will likely be back in the lineup the following day. And every time, Betts is held out again. That part of the approach is smart, especially since they're dealing with ...well, that's part of the problem, too. The Sox have refused to offer specifics about the injury, other than to say the outfielder is experiencing "tightness'' or "soreness in his left side.''

They haven't mentioned intercostal or oblique, although those are the areas where the injury has taken place.

Until Thursday, Betts hadn't so much as swung a bat. He took some swings off a tee to test the side. But even then Cora, wouldn't commit to when Betts would return. Asked if he expected Betts to be back in the lineup sometime this during this weekend series, he would only say: "I hope so.''

That's left the Sox playing a man short. And when Dustin Pedroia was scratched with soreness in his surgically-repaired knee, the Red Sox were playing with exactly two available position players on the bench: Christian Vazquez and Eduardo Nunez.

Playing the Astros is hard enough. Playing them short-handed, as the Sox did Thursday and may well be forced into doing again Friday, is foolhardy.

If the Sox had placed Betts on the DL on Sunday, they'd already be halfway through a 10-day DL stint and would have had another body at their disposal. Now, even if they backdated him, they could only get back three days, and that would postpone their best player's return longer than is necessary.

3. David Price's time to shine comes Saturday.

Price wasn't available to start against Houston last October in the Division Series, having returned from a second DL stint in September, with insufficient time to build up enough arm strength. Pitching in relief, he dominated the Houston lineup. But there's a difference between getting six or eight outs against a good lineup, and getting, say, 21 or so.

Price will get his chance to test himself against the game's best team Saturday. He'll also match up against his one-time teammate in Detroit, Verlander, who is pitching like the best starter on the planet these days.

After being scratched against the Yankees earlier this month with his carpal tunnel diagnosis, some believed Price was decking a top opponent.

He can change that narrative Saturday if he beats the best team and the best starting pitcher. For someone who dwells on what others say about him, surely Price knows what's at stake.

It will be fascinating to watch it unfold.