These spring training standout performances are putting pressure on Astros starting lineup

STONE COLD 'STROS

These spring training standout performances are putting pressure on Astros starting lineup
These Astros are raking in the Grapefruit League! Composite Getty Image.

A lot was made of GM Dana Brown's comments about his expectations for center fielder Jake Meyers this offseason. Brown expressed his desire to give Meyers every opportunity to win the job.

Which not only caught some fans by surprise, but also brought back concerns that Chas McCormick wouldn't be in the lineup regularly.

Manager Joe Espada said he would like to use the DH spot to give guys like Jose Altuve or Jose Abreu the day off, without having to take their bat out of the lineup. How often Espada decides to that is a bit of an unknown at this point.

But who knows, maybe this could work out perfectly. Meyers is CRUSHING the ball in the Grapefruit League this spring, and so is Mauricio Dubon, and McCormick.

If this continues into the regular season, this could be a great problem for the Astros to have. The 'Stros love Meyers' defense, and if he can hit well enough to justify playing regularly, Houston could have the best of both worlds.

Most days, Yordan Alvarez and McCormick could split the left field and DH duties, allowing Chas to be in the lineup frequently without having to be the team's starting center fielder.

If Meyers struggles, then the Astros can turn to Dubon or McCormick in center.

Which brings us to Jeremy Pena. Pena is off to a slow start this spring, and he's still working on his new swing. Pena's power disappeared in early July last season, and he hasn't hit a home run in a game since.

And while Pena is a terrific defensive short stop, if he continues to struggle at the plate, Dubon is right there waiting in the wings should the club need him.

Don't look now, but Dubon could once again be a critical piece to this team like he was in 2023.

Be sure to check out the video above for the full discussion!

Catch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) every Monday on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel. We'll continue to drop videos throughout the week.


Most Popular

The Astros are heading to the Rockies! Composite Getty Image.

The Houston Astros closed out a powerful homestand with a statement series win over the Cubs, led by the continued emergence of Cam Smith and the lockdown stuff of Bryan Abreu. Smith, who seems to live for high-leverage moments, went toe-to-toe with Kyle Tucker and delivered again and again, further cementing his place in Houston’s growing offensive core. Meanwhile, Abreu was simply untouchable—striking out all four batters he faced in a lights-out appearance on Thursday and returning Sunday to toss two scoreless innings in front of Josh Hader’s 23rd straight save. The bullpen continues to impress.

As Houston heads west for a six-game road trip, starting with the Rockies and ending with the Dodgers, the rotation will remain under the microscope. On paper, the Rockies series should be a tune-up—Colorado owns the worst record in baseball. But even in a small three-game set, anything can happen. The Dodgers are a different animal entirely. They’ve been the class of the National League and pose a challenge that may mirror what the Astros saw from the Phillies and Cubs—but this time, Houston won’t have the advantage of home field. Considering the team’s elite pitching and recent play, the Astros should still feel confident, but they’ll need to prove they can sustain this level on the road.

Trade speculation is beginning to swirl, particularly around Baltimore’s Cedric Mullins. Mullins hasn’t lit it up this season—he’s hitting just .213—but his 12 home runs suggest some underlying pop. Houston may believe there's untapped potential in his swing that can be unlocked. It's a move that would fit the Astros’ track record: buying low on a talented player and letting their system do the rest.

Speaking of roster decisions, Christian Walker's bat is officially on watch. Despite showing flashes of life earlier this season, Walker hit just .221 in June and has been dropped to seventh in the lineup. Meanwhile, Jon Singleton has been crushing home runs in Sugar Land and waiting patiently for another big-league shot. The organization has to be thinking about giving Singleton a chance if Walker’s struggles continue.

But not every question has an immediate answer. Lance McCullers Jr.’s return from the injured list was rocky at best, surrendering eight runs in a short outing. Still, the reaction from fans calling for his release is premature at best and delusional at worst. Joe Espada left him in too long, and everyone knew it. It's still June, and McCullers is a proven postseason arm. He’s not going anywhere, not with that contract—and frankly, not with the upside he still offers.

More to the story

Then there's Jeremy Peña. The hope was that his sore ribs were nothing serious. That changed after the homestand, when further imaging revealed a small fracture and landed Peña on the 10-day IL. It’s a frustrating development, but credit the Astros’ medical staff for pushing for clarity—learning from the Yordan Alvarez situation this year. With superagent Scott Boras now representing him, it appeared negotiations were over. But Astros GM Dana Brown revealed on the pregame show this weekend that he’s already reached back out to Boras to reopen the conversation. Whether both sides can agree to new terms is a different story.

So while the Astros leave home riding a wave of momentum, the road ahead holds tougher matchups, key roster questions, and new injury concerns. They’ve shown they’re built to weather all of it. Now they’ll have to prove it.

There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!

The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.

___________________________

*ChatGPT assisted.

Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!

https://houston.sportsmap.com/advertise

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM