Singleton
It is no secret that the Astros have not gotten the offensive production they expected from 1st base. The Astros are ranked 29th out of 30 teams in first base wRC+. The Astros transferred the starter, Jose Abreu, to the Astros’ training facilities in Palm Beach to work on his swing.
Some fans interpreted this move, in combination with the call up of Joey Loperfido, as an effort to use the rookie OF/1b as the first base starter. But, as Chandler Rome states, those who thought Loperfido would be the solution at 1st base “ignored the team’s repeated insistence that Loperfido is best suited as an outfielder.