For the first time this season, Astros manager Joe Espada moved right fielder Kyle Tucker to the second slot in his lineup for the opener of a three-game series against the Mariners.
Alex Bregman started the previous seven games in second place. Espada stated that he chose a “different look” against Seattle’s predominantly right-handed pitching staff. The Astros will face three right-handed starters in the series (George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, and Bryce Miller), while the Mariners have six right-handers in their eight-man bullpen.
“I just felt like getting (Tucker) up there, some at-bats behind (Jose) Altuve, who’s been on base a lot, can make a difference in this series,” Espada said.
Tucker slotted ahead of Yordan Alvarez and Bregman on Friday. Both Alvarez and Bregman are slumping. Alvarez was hitting .161 with three extra-base hits, all home runs, over his last 15 games entering Friday. He was hitless in his last 16 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Bregman awoke Friday with a .200 average and .543 OPS. The third baseman hit his first home run of the season Tuesday against the Guardians but then went hitless in his final 11 at-bats of the series.
Espada moved Bregman up to the second spot in Chicago hoping to “get him going.” Bregman was 6-for-31 in seven games there and returned to the cleanup spot Friday. Espada said he didn’t consider moving Bregman down further in the order.
“That’s a good spot for Breggy,” Espada said. “Breggy is a really good hitters and I know that he’s close. … We’ve seen some good at-bats. He’s just missing, he’s not being on time. But I know at some point he’ll get hot and he’ll be the Alex Bregman that we typically see.”
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