Here are the realities of extending King Tuck’s reign with Houston Astros
26 July 2023
Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker has been on a heater as of late, helping to carry the team's offense with Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve still rehabbing their injuries.
Tucker's contract has been a big topic of discussion for the fans and media, but it doesn't look like a long-term deal will be agreed upon anytime soon.
So what should the Astros do? Some have proposed trading him, since he's the biggest asset the team has, but letting him go with him under contract for two more seasons after 2023 seems premature.
Which begs the question: should the Astros be okay with letting him walk when he becomes a free agent?
And if the team does try to sign him to an extension, they have to go into negotiations knowing he's going to get more than Yordan Alvarez (6-years, $115 million), and rightfully so. Houston got a bargain with Alvarez, and availability matters. As good as Yordan is, he misses a lot of time.
Tucker's consistency is one of the reasons he's so valuable.
Be sure to watch the video above as we share our thoughts on how the Astros can retain Tucker, and how much it could cost to get a deal done.
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Astros turn to reinforcements as they eye another key win
May 20, 2025, 4:43 pm
The Houston Astros will aim to lock up a series victory Tuesday night as they face the Tampa Bay Rays in the second game of a three-game set. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.
Houston (25–22) took the opener 4–3 on Monday and has now won five of its last ten games, continuing a recent surge that has pulled them back above .500 and into second place in the AL West. Tampa Bay (21–26) sits fourth in the AL East and has struggled to find consistency, especially at home where they are now just 11–18.
The Astros will turn to left-hander Brandon Walter, who is set to make his season debut. Walter, a depth option from the Astros' system, gets the nod with the club working through recent rotation injuries.
The Rays counter with right-hander Zack Littell (3–5, 4.31 ERA), who has been solid but not dominant across his first nine starts. He’s struck out 32 batters in 54.1 innings with a strong 1.12 WHIP.
Team trends
Houston holds the AL’s fifth-best team on-base percentage (.318) and has gone 6–4 over its last 10 games, posting a .252 batting average and a 3.78 team ERA in that span. Tampa Bay is 5–5 over its last 10, hitting .236 while their pitching staff has combined for a 4.34 ERA.
Players to watch
- Jake Meyers continues to provide timely power for Houston, while Isaac Paredes has been one of Houston's steadiest hitters, going 11-for-37 with three home runs over his last 10 games.
- Jonathan Aranda leads the Rays with a .309 batting average and has been a consistent bat in the middle of their lineup.
- Chandler Simpson, a recent spark plug for Tampa, is hitting .364 over his last 10 games.
Betting line
According to BetMGM, the Astros are slight road favorites at -114, with the Rays at -105. The over/under is set at 9.5 runs, signaling expectations for a potentially high-scoring matchup.
With the series opener in their pocket and Walter making his first appearance of the year, the Astros will look to keep momentum rolling in Tampa and inch closer to the top of the AL West standings.
Here's a look at Tuesday's night's lineup:
Game 2 in the sunshine state.
⚾️: 6:05pm CT | 7:05pm ET
📺: @SpaceCityHN
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 | Spanish: 93.3 FM#BuiltForThis x @reliantenergy pic.twitter.com/5IXQCbyGsE
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 20, 2025
Yainer Diaz gets the night off, with Victor Caratini catching Walter in his big league debut. Chas McCormick is in the lineup again playing left field, and Zach Dezenzo gets the nod in the DH spot.
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