Houston Astros: How To Deal With The Logjam

Some week, some day, some hour, some minute the Astros will call up Alex Bregman. My guess is that day is July 22nd when the Astros open up a homestand at Minute Maid Park.

The timing works out logistically since the AAA Fresno Grizzlies, Bregman’s current team, is in Texas to face the Round Rock Express. Their series ends Thursday and it would be a quick trip to send Bregman from Round Rock down to Houston to meet his then new teammates there in time for the series opener on Friday.

Yulieski Gurriel on the other hand, may take a few extra weeks to don the Astros uniform. He has some visa issues to work out and then will need several games at the Minor League level to get his bat going.

Whatever the case may be, when the two bats arrive in Houston, the Astros lineup will look significantly different, significantly better.

I did write something a week ago about how the Astros need to call up Alex Bregman and Preston Tucker. That was during the All-Star Break when there was no talk of Gurriel. Now with Gurriel in the mix, there may not be a need for Tucker. Still, I want to show y’all how I would fill in the batting order once Bregman and Gurriel are on the 25-man roster.

vs. RHP (avg/OPS against RHP in parantheses) vs. LHP (avg/OPS against LHP in parantheses)
Note: Using Bregman (just AA), Reed and Tucker’s 2016 MiLB splits. No access to Gurriel splits.
Note: These numbers below are from the All-Star break.

Springer – RF (.276/.928) Springer – RF (.257/.801)
Bregman – DH (.311/.986) Bregman – 3B (.200/900)
Altuve – 2B (.347/.962) Altuve – 2B (.321/.932)
Correa – SS (.276/.877) Correa – SS (.210/.617)
Valbeuna – 3B (.264/.854) Valbuena – 1B (.283/.786)
Gurriel – LF Gurriel – LF
Reed – 1B (.283/.883) Gattis – C (.233/.802)
Rasmus- CF (.262/.761) Reed – DH (.222/.782)
Castro – C (.246/.844) Gomez – CF (.260/.713)

Bench Bench
Gomez (.199/.571) Gonzalez (.247/.738)
Gonzalez (.253/.658) Rasmus (.183/.603)
Gattis (.204/.641) Castro (.123/.394)

This lineup changes things drastically for the Astros and some players. But in an ideal situation, all players would be ok with their new roles.

Live Feed

Astros appear to be content to let the rest of the league pass them by this offseason /

Climbing Tal's Hill

5 Astros players that are primed for a much improved 2024 seasonClimbing Tal's Hill

Could Ohtani contract deferrals set stage for Astros with Alex Bregman?FanSided

World Series Odds: Which Teams Have Value after Shohei Ohtani Signing?Betsided

5 Astros relievers who will have a much bigger role in 2024Climbing Tal's Hill

3 rumors that would be disasters for the Astros with Ohtani off the market Climbing Tal's Hill

Let’s start with the bench players. Marwin Gonzalez, who to his credit has been excellent as a fill-in everywhere, would be relegated to a complete bench role. Of course the Astros could throw him in a game here and there and he could play anywhere, but I believe he’s much better off as a utility player playing a few times a week, rather than drawing a start more often than not.

Carlos Gomez and Colby Rasmus become platoon players. Gomez is terrible against righties and Rasmus is terrible against lefties. Adding Gurriel and Bregman, one of whom could probably shift to left field, gives the Astros the opportunity to sit Rasmus and Gomez when they face their weak side.

Evan Gattis and Jason Castro become a strict catching platoon. Castro should always catch against righties as his numbers are significantly better when facing a right hander. Gattis can’t hit righties if his life depended on it, so he’d face lefties where Castro is worse than if he bunted every time at-bat.

The new lineup features the Astros top prospect in the #2 hole. He should get good pitches to hit in front of Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. Bregman needs everyday at-bats and will see time at DH, 3B and potentially LF.