Tucker (ankle) is starting in right field and batting second in Sunday's spring game against the Cardinals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Tucker sat out the final of the World Baseball Classic due to the minor ankle sprain, but he's back in the lineup Sunday and his availability for Opening Day never appeared in question. The 26-year-old will be a key piece near the top of Houston's lineup again this season, especially early on with Jose Altuve (thumb) likely out until at least June.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Good chance to play Sunday
Rotowire
Tucker (ankle) is likely to return to the lineup for Sunday's Grapefruit League finale, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Tucker is considered day-to-day with a minor ankle sprain that he suffered while playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Even if he is held out of the lineup for Sunday's finale, there's a very good chance the left-handed-hitting outfielder is back in the lineup for Opening Day against the White Sox on Thursday.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Could return to action Saturday
Rotowire
Tucker (ankle) could return to the Astros' Grapefruit League lineup Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The original aim was Sunday, so this news is another positive indication that Tucker's right ankle sprain is nearly in the rearview. He suffered the injury last weekend while sliding into second base in Team USA's win over Venezuela during the WBC. The dynamic 26-year-old outfielder should be fully ready for Opening Day.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Expects to be ready for Opening Day
Rotowire
Tucker (ankle) hopes to return to Grapefruit League action Sunday and expects to be ready for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Tucker sprained his right ankle last weekend during Team USA's win over Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. The injury isn't considered serious, and he returned to Astros camp Thursday without a limp. There doesn't seem to be much concern about the star outfielder's readiness for the beginning of the 2023 regular season.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Ankle injury considered minor
Rotowire
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Wednesday that Tucker's ankle sprain is considered minor, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Tucker tweaked his ankle while playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, but he was examined by Astros personnel at their spring training complex Wednesday and doesn't appear to be at much risk of missing Opening Day. It's not clear if he'll be able to play in any of the Astros' remaining four Grapefruit League games, however.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Having ankle checked out
Rotowire
Tucker is scheduled to report to the Astros' facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. on Wednesday to have his ankle looked at, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Tucker was unable to play for Team USA in Tuesday's World Baseball Classic loss to Team Japan because of ankle soreness. Astros manager Dusty Baker told Rome that the outfielder was doing "better" a day later, but the skipper wanted the Houston training staff to look at the ankle first before determining Tucker's next steps. Tucker should be considered day-to-day at this point, but there should be further clarity on the extent of injury by the weekend.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Not in starting lineup for USA
Rotowire
Tucker (ankle) is not in Team USA's starting lineup for the World Baseball Classic championship game Tuesday against Team Japan.
Tucker fouled a ball off his ankle in Saturday's quarterfinal game Saturday versus Team Venezuela and then sat out of Sunday's semifinal win over Team Cuba. He only suffered a bruise and a bit of swelling, so perhaps he'll be available off the bench Tuesday night in Miami. Cedric Mullins, Mike Trout and Mookie Betts are starting across the outfield. Kyle Schwarber is at DH.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Helps USA to semis
Rotowire
Tucker went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and two RBI in Saturday's quarterfinal win over Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
Tucker blasted a solo home run -- his first of the tournament -- in the fifth inning to give Team USA a 5-2 lead. Overall, he's collected five hits in 15 at-bats with three extra-base knocks during the tournament. Tucker is coming off a strong 2022 campaign, during which he maintained a .808 OPS with 30 homers, 107 RBI and 71 runs scored across 606 plate appearances.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Loses arbitration case
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Tucker has lost his arbitration hearing to the Astros, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Tucker and the team were at a significant gap in salary requests, as Tucker asked for $7.5 million while the Astros suggested $5 million. After losing his case, Tucker will be set to make the latter amount in 2023. He'll be entering his fourth full big-league season and posted 30 home runs with 25 stolen bases in 150 games in 2022.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Two homers in Game 1
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Tucker went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run, a solo home run and a walk during Friday's 6-5 loss to the Phillies in Game 1 of the World Series.
Tucker had a perfect start to Game 1 with two homers in his first two at bats, but the Astros were ultimately unable to hold a five-run lead. The 25-year old accounted for four of the five runs on the night for Houston, achieving a multi-homer game for the first time since May 17 against the Red Sox. Tucker came into the World Series batting just .214 with one RBI across 28 at-bats in the postseason. He is slated to face Zack Wheeler in Game 2, a pitcher he has not faced in his career.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Reaches 30-homer mark
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Tucker went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's 10-0 win over the Phillies.
Tucker reached the 30-homer mark for the second straight year with his first-inning blast Tuesday. He'd gone six games without driving in a run prior to this contest, which matched his second-longest RBI drought of the year behind a 13-game stretch in April. The outfielder has put together a solid year with a .258/.331/.479 slash line with 107 RBI, 71 runs scored and 25 stolen bases through 149 contests overall.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: On base five times
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Tucker went 2-for-2 with two walks, a hit-by-pitch, a run scored and a steal in Tuesday's victory over the Diamondbacks.
Tucker was an on-base machine Tuesday as he reached base in all five of his plate appearances. The 25-year-old also recorded a stolen base in the fourth inning to increase his season-long total to 24. He has now reached base in 14 of his last 15 games, a period in which he is batting .310 with five home runs and two stolen bases.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Two-run home run in victory
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Tucker went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's win over the Rays.
Tucker launched a two-run shot off Brooks Raley in the top of the eighth inning, giving the Astros a 4-2 lead. The long ball was his 29th of the campaign and seventh in the month of September. Since the beginning of the month, the outfielder has batted .270 with seven homers, 18 RBI, 11 runs and three stolen bases over 19 games.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Stays hot
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Tucker went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Wednesday against the Tigers.
Tucker took Joey Wentz deep in the fourth frame to tally his 27th homer of the season. He's been red hot at the dish, racking up five home runs, 12 RBI and nine runs scored across his last 10 games. For the season, Tucker owns a .259/.333/.483 line across 538 plate appearances while also chipping in a career-high 22 stolen bases.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Slugs 26th homer
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Tucker went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run Tuesday against the Tigers.
Tucker took Drew Hutchison yard in the third inning to tally his 26th homer of the season. He has been on fire at the dish across his last 12 games, recording four homers with 13 RBI and eight runs scored. As a result, Tucker has the chance to tally 30 long balls for the second consecutive season, and he has already reached a career-high 95 RBI and 22 stolen bases across 529 plate appearances for the campaign.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Drives in three
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Tucker went 1-for-5 with three RBI on Monday against the Tigers.
Tucker had a number of excellent opportunities to drive in runs, though he grounded out in his first two chances with runners in scoring position. However, he delivered a couple insurance runs in the final frame, tallying a two-RBI single. Tucker has had a surge of production across his last eight games, racking up three home runs, nine RBI and seven runs scored in 32 at-bats. For the season, he has a .258/.333/.474 line across 529 plate appearances.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Connects for 25th home run
Rotowire
Tucker went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Angels.
After going hitless in the first two games of the series against the Angels, Tucker got back on track with two hits, including his 25th long ball of the campaign. Tucker is the only player in the majors this season with 25 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Additionally, his two RBI on the day increased his total to 90, positioning him to potentially record his first career 100 RBI season.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Hits game-tying blast
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Tucker went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, an additional run scored and a walk in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Rangers.
Tucker pulled the Astros all the way back from their early deficit. He walked and scored in the fourth inning before tying the game with his blast in the sixth. The outfielder has gone 6-for-22 (.273) with two homers, four RBI, three stolen bases and five runs scored through six games in September. The productive start to the month is right in line with what he's done all year -- the 25-year-old owns a .261/.337/.476 slash line with 24 long balls, 22 steals, 88 RBI and 62 runs scored through 126 contests.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Steals two bases, scores two runs
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Tucker went 2-for-4 with two steals and two runs scored in Tuesday's loss against Texas.
The Astros ran wild on catcher Sam Huff on Tuesday, and Tucker got in on the action, recording two of the team's five stolen bases on the night. The stolen bases were timely as they both put him in position to score, on an RBI groundout in the second and on a fielder's choice in the fourth. Tucker now has 22 stolen bases and 60 runs scored to go along with a .260/.335/.470 slash line on the season. He's also hit safely seven times in his last eight games.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker: Slugs 23rd homer
Rotowire
Tucker went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 9-1 win over the Angels.
Tucker took Tucker Davidson yard in the second inning to tally his 23rd homer of the season. In 23 games since Aug. 9, Tucker has hit .323 with four homers, 19 RBI and 14 runs scored. That stretch has helped raise his line to .258/.334/.471 across 500 plate appearances on the season.
