HOUSTON -- In two seasons as manager of the Astros, A.J. Hinch has used 295 different lineups in 324 regular-season games. Hinch would prefer to have more stability in the batting order, but injuries and underperformance have forced him to do more shuffling than a Las Vegas blackjack dealer.
The additions of veterans Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, Josh Reddick and Norichika Aoki will give Hinch viable options throughout the lineup, but that doesn't necessarily mean there will be more stability. The Astros always look for ways to exploit matchups by changing the lineup, and injuries likely will be another factor.