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!
Mauricio Dubón homered twice and Josh Hader stayed perfect in 19 save chances this season by getting Mike Trout to line out to center field with a runner on second as the Houston Astros held off the Los Angeles Angels 8-7 in the rubber game of their series Sunday.
DUBI SENDS ONE OUT! #VoteDubi ⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHQMR1 pic.twitter.com/XqKhVxPgOs
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 22, 2025
Dubón's second career multihomer game began with a leadoff shot against starter Kyle Hendricks in the fifth inning for the Astros' first run. Dubón added a two-run drive off Hunter Strickland for a 6-5 lead in the sixth.
DOUBLE DUBI DAY! #VoteDubi ⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHRkGz pic.twitter.com/4dx2q3rvUa
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 22, 2025
Jeremy Peña had an RBI double and Jake Meyers added a sacrifice fly to make it 8-5.
Nolan Schanuel hit an RBI single for the Angels in the seventh, and Zach Neto trimmed it to 8-7 with a solo homer off Hader in the ninth. Schanuel finished with three hits and four RBIs.
Peña hit his 11th home run one out after Dubón’s shot in the fifth to tie it 2-all. Meyers singled, stole second and scored on a two-out error by Luis Rengifo at third base. Christian Walker followed with an RBI double for a 4-2 lead.
Taylor Ward had a two-out double off Astros rookie Ryan Gusto, and Logan O'Hoppe hit his third two-run homer in two days to give the Angels a 2-0 lead in the second. O'Hoppe has 17 home runs and is closing in on the team record for a catcher set by Lance Parrish with 22 in 1990.
LaMonte Wade Jr. and Christian Moore singled in the bottom half, and Schanuel gave the Angels a 5-4 lead with his sixth homer.
Gusto (5-3) allowed five runs and six hits in six innings with seven strikeouts.
Hendricks permitted five runs — three earned — in five innings. Strickland (1-2) worked an inning and was tagged with his first three earned runs this season.
Key moment
The Angels had a run in with two on and two outs down 8-6 in the seventh with Trout coming to bat. Bryan Abreu replaced Bryan King and needed just three pitches to strike out Trout swinging on a pitch in the dirt.
Key stat
Trout went 1 for 11 after entering the series as the active leader against Houston with 30 homers, 30 doubles and 73 RBIs.
Up next
Houston returns home to play the Philadelphia Phillies beginning Tuesday.
The Angels hadn't announced a starter for Monday's series opener against RHP Walker Buehler (5-5, 5.95 ERA) and the visiting Boston Red Sox.
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