Astros’ Projected Opening Day Lineup Reveals Outfield Competition Heating Up

A new prediction shows the Houston Astros' outfield having some competition within the franchise.

Sep 14, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Houston Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez (44) scores a run against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park. | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The Houston Astros could be facing a great loss this offseason with free agent Framber Valdez now on the market. There are several pressing matters that need to be addressed during the offseason, including the Valdez conundrum, but each passing day means that we are inching one step closer to Opening Day.

With that comes a flurry of predictions about what the starting rotation and the lineup could look like. One of the more recent predictions laid out an interesting blueprint.

Competition in the Outfield

Erik Williams-Imagn Images

The Astros might find themselves in a peculiar situation next season. While a few ball clubs are struggling to plug the gaps in their outfield, there could be some competition for playing time in Houston's outfield, per Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report.

Reuter released his latest prediction for the Astros' 2026 Opening Day lineup, and if his projection becomes a reality, here's how things could pan out:

• SS Jeremy Peña
• LF Yordan Alvarez
• 2B Jose Altuve
• 3B Carlos Correa
• DH Isaac Paredes
• 1B Chirstian Walker
• C Yainer Díaz
• RF Cam Smith
• CF Jake Meyers

As reported by Reuter, Correa and Paredes were only in the lineup together for eight games in 2025 with Alvarez out of commission each of those times due to a significant injury. Having the trio in the same lineup would be interesting and rather unusual compared to how this past year went. Assuming each player is healthy and cleared to play, this will require Houston to consider how to fit the pieces together for the infield.

Adding to the dilemma is the outfield, to which Reuter states, "Cam Smith, Jake Meyers, Jesús Sánchez, Zach Cole, Taylor Trammell and Jacob Melton will all compete for playing time in the outfield this spring, with Sánchez and Trammell both out of minor league options."

During their latest campaign, the Astros were plagued with more injuries than any other team in the Major Leagues, leaving them in a tough spot as the end of the season rapidly approached.

Ultimately, this played a major role in their inability to reach the postseason for the first time in nearly a decade. Ideally, 2026 will be a turning point, and the process of building out the lineup could be quite seamless.

While this prediction is considered incredibly early, March will be here before we know it, and once that arrives, Opening Day will follow shortly after. This is a busy time for the Astros, and there are more decisions that have yet to be made.

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