MOVING ON UP!
Astros manager puts latest stamp on Houston's lineup with another intelligent tweak
Mar 25, 2024, 7:39 pm
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!
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.