Debate is up for final spot on Astros’ ALDS roster

Revue de web

By Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle, Thursday, September 12, 2019

A battle is brewing between Abraham Toro and Kyle Tucker for the final spot on Houston’s American League Division Series roster.

The Astros customarily carry a 14th position player during the five-game ALDS before shrinking to a three-man bench and 12-man pitching staff in the American League Championship Series.

Twelve position player spots are all but assured for the ALDS, leaving two slots on the four-man bench. Myles Straw seems likely to occupy one as a pinch-runner.

Photo ci-dessus : Qui d'Abraham Toro-Hernandez ou de Kyle Tucker sera de la formation des Astros de Houston pour les séries éliminatoires... Toro semble avoir un avantage en étant le seul joueur actif de l'équipe à frapper des deux côtés du marbre en plus d'être plus polyvalent en défensive. (Photos: Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle)

It leaves Tucker and Toro ostensibly in a tussle for the one opening. Neither prospect was in Wednesday night’s starting lineup against the A’s.

Toro is the team’s only active switch-hitter and has much more defensive versatility than Tucker, a lefthanded-hitting corner outfielder with more established power throughout his minor league career.

Toro is 14-for-55 in his first 16 major league games. Five of his hits garnered extra bases. Tucker is 7-for-24 with three extra-base hits and a much-improved demeanor from his call-up last season.

“I think this is a nice reminder for me and the coaches and the organization of how much people can learn and adapt in the course of a year,” manager A.J. Hinch said of Tucker, who went 9-for-64 during two separate stints in the major leagues last season.

“I think he’s matured a bit and I think he has an appreciation for being in the big leagues. I think his sense of urgency has been good and I think he understands the type of team that he’s on.”

When he joined the major league team on Sept. 2, Tucker said making a playoff roster was his foremost personal goal. His first eight games seem to have erased lingering concerns surrounding his pregame preparation and overall readiness to contribute.

“He’s blended in well, he’s studied well,” Hinch said. “I think he’s more prepared to be a big leaguer today than he was when he got here last year and that’s a compliment to our development staff, to him and to our organization.”

Though Tucker has continued his introduction to first base during the last three games — two Astros wins by a 36-1 margin and Tuesday night’s 21-7 loss to the A’s — Hinch said the putting him there was more because of the blowout score than any potential long-term situation.

“His first-base usefulness is not going to factor into his postseason consideration,” Hinch said. “It’s more about his at-bats, his at-bats off the bench, playing the two outfield corner positions and how we configure different things once we get to that decision.”

Revue de presse publiée par Jacques Lanciault.