Houston Astros Projected Opening-Day Lineup Features Familiar Faces
When it comes to the opening-day lineup for the Houston Astros there probably isn’t much intrigue.
When MLB.com projected the opening-day batting order and starting rotations for every team, it settled on a lineup that Astros fans are familiar with — and will likely be happy with.
The Astros open the regular season at Minute Maid Park on March 28 against the New York Yankees.
Jose Altuve, who just signed a five-year extension which will keep him with Houston until 2029, will lead off, as he has for years. He’s coming off a 2023 in which he missed two months due to injuries but hit for the cycle and passed 2,000 hits for his career.
Alex Bregman, a player the Astros hope to get signed to an extension, is projected to bat second. Bregman is entering the final year of his contract and the Astros expect to make him an extension offer.
Yordan Alvarez, a potential American League MVP candidate, bats third and starts in the designated hitter role, where he spent much of his time last season. New manager Joe Espada has said that he would like to play Alvarez in the field. But his bat is much more important to the Astros.
José Abreu would play first base and bat clean-up.
Another extension candidate, Kyle Tucker, would bat fifth and start in right field, followed by catcher Yainer Diaz, who takes over the job full time from former starter Martin Maldonado.
The remainder of the order features left fielder Chas McCormick batting seventh, shortstop Jeremy Peña batting eighth and center fielder Jake Meyers batting ninth.
Absent is Mauricio Dubón, a super-utility player who won a Gold Glove last season and recently won his arbitration case with the Astros.
As for the rotation, Justin Verlander figures to be at the top and get the start on opening day. He would be followed Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, José Urquidy and Hunter Brown.
That would leave J.P. France without a starting role to begin the season and plenty of intrigue ahead as the Astros expect pitchers Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. to be ready from their respective injury rehabs by midseason.
The Astros look like they have one of the best lineups in baseball once again, assuming everyone stays healthy this spring in West Palm Beach.
