The Astros may be carrying a postseason wrinkle into their Wild Card Series roster that could reshape how they line up against the White Sox.
Houston is considering keeping infielder Raynel Delgado on the roster so it can add infield depth and open the door for Yordan Alvarez to play left field while Jose Altuve handles designated hitter duties, according to Brian McTaggart.
That setup would give the Astros a little more flexibility, and Delgado is the kind of player who makes that possible. The 26-year-old was drafted by Cleveland in the sixth round in 2018, then moved through several organizations before Houston acquired him from the Rays for cash in June.
He later got the call for his big league debut. In 20 games with the Astros, Delgado hit .243/.300/.351 with a .651 OPS.
His bat has been modest, but his defensive versatility has been his calling card, and that’s the reason he’s on the roster.
The move matters because Alvarez is almost exclusively a DH at this point. He played only 25 of Houston’s 159 games in the field this season, all in left.
If Delgado is available, the Astros can slide Alvarez into the outfield and keep Altuve at DH. That would not be Houston’s cleanest defensive alignment, especially with Altuve’s struggles at second base this season, but it would give the club another option if it wants to juggle the lineup later in the series.
For now, though, Game 1 doesn’t reflect that idea. Houston’s opening lineup has Alvarez at DH and Altuve at second base.
The White Sox will have plenty to watch beyond the batting order, too. Houston finished 23rd in baseball in Defensive Runs Saved in 2026, so the glove work has been shaky at times. That puts even more emphasis on White Sox hitters putting the ball in play.
Chicago has already released its lineup for Tuesday’s game, and its full roster sets up an interesting approach with the pitching staff. The White Sox went 2-5 against Houston during the regular season, but this week starts fresh.
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Chicagos path is made trickier by the fact that both staffs arrive with questions, but the Astros have the kind of lineup depth that can make those issues easier to survive in October. Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez bring postseason experience that could tilt a short series, which leaves the White Sox needing their own answer to one glaring Astros advantage if they want the upset to feel realistic. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Wild Card Roster Hints At A Bold Astros Plan
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Hagen Smith is set to open Game 1 in what is expected to be a bullpen game, which already gives the opener a different feel than a standard postseason start. Anthony Kay is also on the roster after recent pitching work, a detail that suggests the White Sox may be keeping another option available on short rest as they try to piece together outs against Houston. [Read more 🡒]