Optimize the Astros Lineup with this One Weird Trick!

Clearly, Spring Training stats matter, right?

So obviously, the best thing to do would be to establish an opening day lineup based on that most important stat of all: Batting Average!

Here we go.

First, the pre-preseason speculated lineup, which obviously won’t work anymore, along with the relevant spring stats:

( BA ) - Player Name

(.214) - CF George Springer
(.304) - 3B Alex Bregman
(.083) - 2B Jose Altuve
(.154) - SS Carlos Correa
(.375) - LF Carlos Beltran
(.130) - RF Josh Reddick
(.118) - C Brian McCann
(.190) - DH Evan Gattis
(.292) - 1B Yuli Gurriel

Clearly, there are a couple obvious cuts, starting with that scrub Altuve, who isn’t even hitting his height in centimeters.

This lineup shows just what an exercise in futility it is to project rosters before play actually starts in March! Only three players have a clear chance at being decent everyday players - Bregman, Beltran, and Gurriel. The rest? Eh.

Luckily though, play has started, and we can use what we have learned to create a new, OPTIMIZED lineup.

(.500) - CF Nori Aoki
(.304) - SS Alex Bregman
(.292) - 3B Yuli Gurriel
(.375) - LF Carlos Beltran
(.409) - DH Colin Moran
(.375) - RF Alejandro Garcia
(.333) - 1B A.J. Reed
(.333) - 2B Reid Brignac
(.321) - C Tony Kemp

Clearly, this is a superior offensive lineup, although it is worth noting that having Kemp learn to play catcher might not be ideal. Luckily, there are other options for the conversion, including J.D. Davis (.316), Derek Fisher (.286), or (perhaps the most sensible option) Tyler White (.276).

What do you think of this new optimized Astros lineup? Personally, I strongly believe that it gives them a better chance at winning in the playoffs than going into the season with players who have shown themselves unable to catch up with the challenge of Spring Training breaking pitches.