BOSTON — The Red Sox aren’t crazy about playing interleague games in general, and especially on the road.

Things can happen. Pitchers swing too hard (Bartolo Colon) and hurt themselves. Players with tight hamstrings (Manny Ramirez) have to play in the field. And Boston will be short-handed when Coco Crisp is forced out because of a suspension for his part in a June 5 brawl with the Rays.

Yet the fact of the matter is that there is no better time to be playing in Houston.

This is a team that’s in disarray.

On May 27, the Astros were 30-23, tied for second place in the National League Central, only 1 ½ games behind the Chicago Cubs. Heading into last night’s game, they were 36-42, in next-to-last place at 13 games out.

During that dismal 6-19 stretch, manager Cecil Cooper has come under fire, and yesterday pitcher Shawn Chacon was placed on waivers after The Houston Chronicle reported he had choked general manager Ed Wade.

There’s no better place to start the second half.

skrasner@projo.com