We are in the full throes of spring baseball with both semi-meaningful WBC games underway and meaningless (unless you are angling for a roster spot) exhibitions. We’ve started to see pitchers go more than one inning and projected starters in regular lineups.
As we edge ever so slowly towards Opening Day, there remain plenty of questions about who will or won’t make the 26-man roster. Here’s our third take.
STARTERS (9)
Yainer Diaz (C)
Christian Walker (1B)
Jose Altuve (2B)
Carlos Correa (SS)
Isaac Paredes (3B)
Joey Loperfido (LF)
Jake Meyers (CF)
Cam Smith (RF)
Yordan Alvarez (DH)
The injury to Jeremy Peña’s ring finger is not considered serious, but, at this point, we should assume he will be on the IL to start the season. As long as it doesn’t linger, that’s not a concern. Meanwhile, Loperfido has been playing well in the outfield and at the plate. He obviously is comfortable back with the Astros and seems he is growing closer and closer to a lock to make the roster, especially with his left-handed bat. Peña’s health and any potential trade of Paredes and/or Meyers could upend all this.
BENCH LOCKS (3)
Nick Allen (UTIL)
Christian Vasquez (C)
Zach Cole (OF)
The Astros signed Vasquez, a familiar face, to a minor league deal this week. It would make sense that he has the inside track for the backup catcher position. Cesar Salazar has been solid and is good defensively, but it’s hard to imagine the team taking him into the season as a backup. He could make the roster as a third catcher. Allen is the team’s utility guy and Cole is the odds-on favorite given he’s a lefty and the team remains high on his skillset.
ON THE BUBBLE
Zach Dezenzo (OF), Taylor Trammel (OF), Brice Matthews (2B/OF), Cesar Salazar (OF)
Brice Matthews has been playing some in center and hitting well at the plate. Dezenzo, who is playing for team Italy in the WBC, might squeeze in here if they team opts for not having a third catcher and if Trammel, another lefty, doesn’t hit well enough.
STARTING ROTATION (6)
Hunter Brown
Tatsuya Imai
Mike Burrows
Cristian Javier
Lance McCullers, Jr.
Jason Alexander
Burrows has moved up the rotation with his performance this spring. He has been absolutely outstanding, everything the Astros hoped for. We are assuming that this team begins the year with six starters, but that could easily be five starters and a swing pitcher who could pitch in relief or as a piggyback starter. Alexander looked great while Spencer Arrighetti has struggled a bit with command, an issue that has plagued him throughout his young career. He could start the year in Sugar Land.
BULLPEN (7)
Bryan Abreu
Bryan King
Steven Okert
Bennett Sousa
Roddery Muñoz
Ryan Weiss
Kai-Wei Tang
Jose Hader and Enyel De Los Santos are likely to begin the season on the IL opening some spots. Abreu, King and Okert are locks. Sousa, a veteran Astro, should fit in as another lefty, something of a surplus in the pen. Muñoz has been up and down, but as a Rule 5 draftee, he gets a spot or gets shipped back to his team. The team is very high on Tang’s stuff and Weiss is someone who can throw long relief or even take a short start.