Struggling Krauss gives way to Guzman

HOUSTON -- Marc Krauss, who had been starting at first base against right-handed pitchers, was on the bench to start Wednesday's game, with Jesus Guzman getting a rare start against a right-hander.

Astros manager Bo Porter said it was simply a case of wanting Guzman in the lineup to face a fastball pitcher in Washington's Jordan Zimmermann, but he wasn't ready to say he was putting an end to the Guzman-Krauss platoon.

"It all depends on the matchups and who we're playing against," he said. "Zimmermann is predominantly a fastball pitcher, and Guzman is a really good fastball hitter."

But it can't be ignored that Krauss is mired in an 0-for-12 slump that has dropped his batting average to .120.

"Right now, he's had some pitches to hit that he hasn't hit," Porter said. "If you miss your pitch, now you're constantly having to deal with hitting the pitcher's pitches, and that makes it more difficult."

Guzman went 3-for-4 with a double in the Astros' 7-0 loss.