Krauss continuing push for roster spot

VIERA, Fla. -- No Astros player has helped himself more during the first week of Grapefruit League games than Marc Krauss, who went 3-for-4 with a homer and a lineout in Friday's loss to the Nationals.

Krauss is hitting .455 (8-for-15) in five games, with two of the team's three homers.

"I've been feeling good thus far through the first week or so of spring," he said. "Part of it just comes down to being able to feel comfortable at the plate and seeing the pitches well, and right now the ball is pretty big. I've been able to put consistent contact on it. I'm trying to keep that for as long as I can. It can come and go in baseball, and I'm trying to keep that good feeling I have at the plate."

Krauss' chances of making the club are bolstered by the fact he can play both corner-outfield spots and first base. He can also slot in at designated hitter. At the plate, Krauss worked in the offseason to reduce wasted movement in his swing and get to the ball quicker.

"I felt at sometimes in my whole career the last couple of years, I've missed fastballs I could hit," he said. "I think the bat barrel was always too slow, just getting the barrel of the bat to the ball as quick as I can and eliminating the extra movement and just trying to be short and quick with it.

"It feels great. It feels good and I feel confident in there, which is a big key as well. I'm going to try to ride it as long as I can."

This is the first spring in which Krauss has had a chance to make a Major League roster, something that motivated him in the offseason.

"That drove me all offseason to work hard and have that eye on the prize to make the team out of spring," he said. "And I've just been really working hard, putting the pedal to the metal, and right now we're having some good results."