Astros manager puts latest stamp on Houston's lineup with another intelligent tweak
MOVING ON UP!
26 March 2024
Kyle Tucker is moving up! Composite Getty Image.
Over the weekend, the Astros wrapped up spring training and are now back in Houston preparing to play against the Yankees on Opening Day.
And when we see that Opening Day batter order from manager Joe Espada, don't be surprised if we notice some changes from last season. Espada already revealed that he plans on batting Yordan Alvarez second, but over the last few days another adjustment was unveiled.
Espada is exploring the possibility of hitting Kyle Tucker third, and pushing Bregman to the cleanup spot. With Tucker hitting third, the club can better utilize his speed and give Bregman more opportunities to hit with runners in scoring position.
Clearly, Espada is not afraid to try some new things and put his stamp on the team. Which is a different approach than former manager Dusty Baker. Baker preferred to split up his left-handed hitters in the lineup.
So based on the Astros recent lineup cards, we expect on most days the batting order to be:
Jose Altuve
Yordan Alvarez
Kyle Tucker
Alex Bregman
Jose Abreu
Chas McCormick
Yainer Diaz
Jeremy Pena
Jake Meyers
Don't miss the video above as we share some updates from the weekend, discuss the Astros new-look batting order, and much more!
Trevor Story and Ceddanne Rafaela had consecutive RBI singles in a six-run fourth inning filled with five Houston mistakes, Lucas Giolito pitched a season-high eight stellar innings, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Astros 6-1 on Sunday to complete a series sweep.
Connor Wong added a sacrifice fly and Wilyer Abreu was credited with a sacrifice on a safety squeeze for an RBI during the inning, sending Boston to its third straight win over the AL West leaders and fourth in a row overall.
Giolito (8-2) gave up the run on three hits with four strikeouts and a walk, eclipsing his previous season-high innings of 7 2/3 on July 4.
Carlos Correa, acquired from Minnesota at the trade deadline, hit a homer for Houston, which has lost eight of 10.
The game’s first pitch was 11:38 a.m. EDT, the third time this season the Red Sox began a game in the morning. The others: their annual Patriots’ Day game when they beat the White Sox and the Independence Day victory at the Nationals.
Framber Valdez (11-5) gave up six runs, four earned, over six innings, ending his personal 10-game winning streak. He entered 10-0 with a 1.84 ERA in his previous 14 starts.
Key moment
During the fourth, Houston missed a cutoff on Story’s run-scoring single, Valdez had a wild pitch, balked home a run and had Abreu’s bunt go under his glove for an error. Yainer Diaz had a passed ball.
Key stat
Valdez hadn’t allowed three runs in an inning since May 19.
Up next
Astros: RHP Jason Alexander (1-1, 7.36 ERA) is slated to start the opener of a three-game series at the Marlins on Monday.
Red Sox: RHP Brayan Bello (7-5, 3.19) is set to start the first of three against the Royals on Monday.
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