Presley, Krauss given chance to start vs. Yankees

HOUSTON -- Alex Presley laughed when asked on Wednesday if he could have envisioned starting in right field for the Astros a week ago, when he was still a member of the Twins.

"No shot," Presley said with a smile.

Presley, claimed off waivers on Thursday from the Twins, made his first career start for the Astros in the second game of the season against the Yankees, hitting eighth and playing right field. The role of coming off the bench to make occasional starts is a familiar one for Presley, who did it with the Pirates, with whom he spent part of the 2013 season.

"I had my stretches where I started a bunch," he said. "Mostly in left, but some in right. Center field was locked down [by Andrew McCutchen]. I got my starts when I could. I came off the bench a little bit every now and then. I was always getting into the game. I'm used to it, used to playing all different roles. It's nothing new, but I'm excited to go out there and play."

Presley and first baseman Marc Krauss both made their first starts of the season on Wednesday, replacing the two players who hit home runs on Opening Day -- Jesus Guzman (first base) and L.J. Hoes (right field).

"Right now we're going with a platoon situation," manager Bo Porter said when asked if he was tempted to keep Guzman and Hoes in the lineup.

Krauss said that seeing his name in the starting lineup is always exciting.

"I'm just really excited to start my season," Krauss said. "We started out with a bang last night, and it was awesome and fun. I just want to see what I can do to add to that atmosphere."