Porter reveals familiar Opening Day lineup

By Brian McTaggart and Chris Abshire

March 30, 2014

HOUSTON -- Astros manager Bo Porter has played coy with his lineups all spring long. But with the season just two days away, Porter finally let his Opening Day lineup slip after Sunday's 6-1 exhibition win.

"I don't mind sharing," Porter said, before rattling off the Astros' starting nine for Tuesday's game against the Yankees.

Here's the order Porter revealed:

1. Dexter Fowler CF
2. Robbie Grossman LF
3. Jose Altuve 2B
4. Jason Castro C
5. Jesus Guzman 1B
6. Chris Carter DH
7. Matt Dominguez 3B
8. L.J. Hoes RF
9. Jonathan Villar SS

Fowler was a regular in the Rockies lineup last season, while Altuve, Castro, Carter and Dominguez were full-time starters for the Astros in 2013. Grossman, Hoes and Villar all started at least 42 games for Houston last year.

The lineup is very similar to the one the Astros trotted out against the Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz in Saturday's 2-0 exhibition win, with Marc Krauss playing instead of Guzman. In that game, Houston struggled to hit Veracruz pitching, with the Astros regulars getting just three hits in four innings. A sacrifice fly and a Fowler solo homer provided the game's only runs.

Houston hosts New York in Minute Maid Park on Tuesday night in the first of three games to begin the 2014 season.

Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Tag's Lines. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter. Chris Abshire is a contributor to MLB.com.