McAdam: What we learned about how the Red Sox match up with the Astros

Thanks to the vagaries of the unbalanced schedule, the Red Sox and Houston Astros are done with one another for the remainder of the regular season.

Two three-game series -- one last weekend at Fenway, the other this weekend in Houston -- are done, with the Astros taking both sets, two games to one.

The last two world champs won't meet again unless they square off in the American League Division Series or, as they did last October, in the American League Championship Series.

Here's what we gleaned from six games over the last 10 days:

1. The Astros are the better team.

OK, that's an understatement. In fact, the Astros might be better than every other team in the game right now.

The Minnesota Twins are pulverizing opponents currently and threatening to run off and hide in the AL Central. But the Twins' rotation can't match Houston's and neither can their bullpen. And the Twins don't have anywhere near the postseason experience these Astros do.

What's remarkable is that Houston hasn't missed a beat despite losing 40 percent of their starting rotation from a year ago (Charlie Morton and Dallas Keuchel). Being without Jose Altuve for a dozen or so games hasn't slowed down the Astros, and it's likely they'll weather the recent injury to George Springer, too.

Houston doesn't have an obvious weakness. They have power, play superb defense, can run out any number of dominant starters and boast a lockdown bullpen.

2. Too often in the two series, the Red Sox beat themselves.

In Saturday's loss, the Sox admirably battled back to score three runs in the final three innings to tie the game, only to hand them back a run in the bottom of the ninth. On Friday, the Red Sox played what was arguably their sloppiest game of the year in the field, committing three errors while also botching a rather routine rundown.

Meanwhile, in the same game, some less-than-savvy baserunning by J.D Martinez and Andrew Benintendi likely cost the Sox a run.

Last weekend, the Sox had a 1-0 lead behind seven brilliant innings from Rick Porcello, then lost the margin with Porcello executed two pitches in a row poorly, handing the Astros two runs on a homer by Springer.

Two of the four losses in the two series were decided by a run; a third was determined by two, with the Red Sox sending the potential winning run to the plate in the ninth. Only one loss -- last weekend's poor effort by starter Hector Velazquez -- was one-sided.

Crisper play, or a break here or there -- like Rafael Devers losing a home run Saturday on an obscure ground rule at Minute Maid Park -- could have given the Red Sox a split in the six games.

There are no "atta-boys'' handed out when you're the defending champs, but as mediocre as the Red Sox' season has been at the one-third mark, they've been reminded that they very much can play with the Astros.

But they'd do well to play cleaner ball if they meet again in October.

3. The Red Sox could use some bullpen upgrades.

This may have been evident earlier, but it became more apparent against the Astros. Saturday's loss may not have been a good measuring stick since the Sox lost their starter in the first inning and had far more outs to cover than they otherwise would have, but the walk-off loss after the stumble by Matt Barnes in the bottom of the ninth was both frustrating and illuminating.

Ditto, for the loss last weekend in the game started by Porcello, since Ryan Brasier allowed a run in the eighth after  Porcello left.

The Red Sox may not need a traditional closer, especially since they've eschewed such a title and have their own bullpen plan. But they could sure use another trustworthy high-leverage reliever to aid Barnes, Brasier, Brandon Workman and Marcus Walden.

The Astros remade their bullpen late last season with the acquisitions of Roberto Osuna and Ryan Pressly. It's incumbent upon the Sox to counter those pickups with moves of their own.