Predicting the Astros Opening Day Roster: Outfield Edition

Left Field: Yordan Alvarez & Justin Dirden

Yordan Alvarez suffered some setbacks this Spring with his hand injury, but he plans to be ready for Opening Day. If he is, the playoff hero and quite possibly, best hitter in baseball is a lock to make the Opening Day roster.

Though the initial plan was for Alvarez to be the every day outfielder, it's likely he opens the season as the primary DH. Michael Brantley has still been recovering from his shoulder injury and has missed time this Spring away from the team dealing with a personal matter, leaving his status for Opening Day up in the air.

Brantley will be needed come October. It's likely Houston doesn't rush him back, but allows him to settle in, leaving an outfield spot open. Enter Justin Dirden.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I listed Dirden as a player that won't make the Opening Day roster, but will contribute to the big league club in 2023. With Brantley's status still undetermined, the door is open for Dirden to step in.

All Dirden has done in his career is hit, and Spring Training has been no different. He is hitting .333 with a 1.300 OPS, two home runs and a double this Spring. He can also play all three outfield spots, but mostly projects as a corner outfielder. As long as Brantley is out, Dirden has earned a shot with the MLB team based on his performance this Spring.

Center Field: Chas McCormick & Jake Meyers

Chas McCormick had an up and down 2022 season, one that even included a demotion to AAA. McCormick finished the year on a high note, posting a .772 OPS in the second half and functioning as the Astros everyday center fielder in October, where he made one of the best plays in Astros history.

I'm a believer Chas breaks out in a big way in 2023.

Joining Chas in center will be Jake Meyers. Meyers was great upon his big league debut in 2021, but suffered a shoulder injury in the 2021 ALDS. He returned in 2022, but wasn't close to the same, hitting .227 with a .582 OPS.

Jake ended up finishing the season in AAA, where he showed signs of regaining form.

His Spring Training stats aren't great, but the small sample size stats don't reflect the quality of contact he has made. His arm has also looked great, a concern Houston had with Meyers rehabbing last year.

McCormick will enter as the incumbent starter, but a health Jake Meyers gives Houston depth they just didn't have last season. If Yordan suffers a hand setback, or just needs a routine day off, the Astros will have plenty of games this season in which Meyers starts in center while McCormick mans left.

Right Field: Kyle Tucker

Right field is one of the deepest positions in the MLB, but the Astros possess one of the best in the game. Kyle Tucker brings the Astros an elite bat to go along with a world-class glove.

He took home his first Gold Glove in 2022, and while his offensive numbers dipped slightly from 2021, expect them to take a big leap forward in 2023. The elimination of the shift will benefit Tucker as much, if not more than, any other player in the game. His numbers at the plate should be absurd this year, and Dusty Baker can't continue to bat Tucker in the sixth-spot for too much longer.

King Tuck should also benefit from the bigger bases. He already stole 25 last year with the smaller bases, but as teams run more with bases easier to steal, 35 stolen bases isn't out of the realm of possibilty for Tucker this year.