LOS ANGELES — Mired in a 3-for-28 funk and displaying outward signs of frustration, Kyle Tucker spent Sunday night out of the Astros’ starting lineup.
Tucker awoke on Sunday with six strikeouts in his last 12 at-bats. He has just one hit since Monday. During Wednesday’s 3-2 loss against the A’s, Tucker was nearly ejected by home plate umpire Nick Mahrley after a ninth-inning strikeout. Tucker slammed his bat, helmet and yelled toward the umpire after his at-bat.
“I can see his frustration because usually he doesn’t show much emotions, but he’s been showing quite a bit lately,” Baker said.
Tucker began this 11-game road trip as the Astros’ best offensive player, a power threat who was carrying a sputtering lineup. Baker said Tucker was available to pinch hit late during Sunday’s game against the Dodgers.
The 23-year-old slugger leads the major leagues with six triples and is tied for the team lead with eight home runs. His emergence has been vital in the absence of designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, who underwent season-ending knee surgery last month.
“They’re spending more time on Tucker in the pitcher-hitters meetings now. When a guy is doing as well as Tucker is doing, you spend more time trying to figure out how to pitch him and what to do to him. That’s most of it,” Baker said of Tucker’s struggles.
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September 14, 2020 at 05:13AM
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Frustrated Kyle Tucker sits to start Astros-Dodgers game - Houston Chronicle
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