Houston Astros: Team should bench Kyle Tucker; stick with Josh Reddick

Houston Astros outfielder Josh Reddick has been in and out of the lineup in the ALCS series. Kyle Tucker should be benched in place of him. Why? Let’s look.

The Houston Astros have yet another opportunity to punch their ticket to the World Series if they play their cards right and win tonight’s game against the New York Yankees. They will have an opportunity to do so against their own home crowd and it’s certainly going to be the loudest it has been this season inside the building with all that’s at stake.

I’m sure the Houston Astros would’ve loved to take care of business in last night’s Game 5 but it was DJ LeMahieu that got the best of Justin Verlander early in the first inning followed by an Aaron Hicks homer that brought Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres in that put a exclamation point on the statement that the Yankees were looking to make in what was an elimination game for them.

They were able to stave things off for another day and they’ll have to keep winning in order to stay alive, even as the series shifts to Minute Maid Park for the remainder of the weekend for Game 6 and possibly for a Game 7.

It’s anyone’s guess on how tonight will pan out as both the Houston Astros and the Yankees will be emptying out their bullpen but I like the edge that our team has, especially with them playing in the friendly confines of the Juicebox.

I’ve already proposed that Brad Peacock start for the Houston Astros today followed likely by Jose Urquidy and the rest of the bullpen tonight and I think the strong play will help this team prevail tonight if the bats are resounding to the beat of being triumphant enough to get to the World Series next week.

But here’s the deal…

AJ Hinch has been playing musical chairs with Kyle Tucker and Josh Reddick in right field and I think it’s time to put an end to it and let the latter remain in the lineup.

You know why? Reddick has proven that he can get on base and make the big plays in the outfield

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when it has counted. He’ll slump from time-to-time but for the postseason, he’s been refreshingly solid.

Reddick has the second-highest OPS among the Houston Astros in the ALCS (.875) with Jose Altuve not surprisingly being the team leader in that stat (.883).

He’s currently 2-for-8 with a slash line of .250/.250/.625 in the ALCS and although that could be better, I rather take my chances on Reddick being able to get the job done.

Look, I get it, Tucker is the outfielder of the future and they’ve made a tremendous investment in the prospect but it’s time to see a steady, veteran hand in the outfield like Reddick.

I happen to really like Tucker but for the sake of having the best guys out on the field at all times, Reddick should be the guy to tap for Game 6 as well as for possible Game 7 and just maybe a World Series as well.

Next. Three reasons why Astros have upper hand in ALCS. dark

Tucker is 1-for-4 for a .250/.250/.250 slash line and that’s personally not enough for me to warrant keeping him in the lineup at the moment. He’ll get his opportunity as time passes but for right now, ensure that said moment belongs to Reddick.

We’ll see what the final decision will be!

Let’s get this win tonight — go Houston Astros!

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