Brian Bogusevic: Astros Batting Lineup Is 'One of the Best In Baseball'

Brian Bogusevic, former Astros outfielder and Space City Home Network analyst, joins Next Up to preview the Houston Astros Opening Day matchup against the New York Yankees.

Drawing on his own experience, Bogusevic says "there's that slow build up" in the offseason that leads to Opening Day, which is where "butterflies show up." However, the Astros should be confident as their offensive lineup is "one of the best in baseball."

With injuries to starting pitching, the Astros looked in the free agent market and even offered Blake Snell who eventually signed with the San Francisco Giants. Free agent starting pitching is "always going to be intriguing," but "the need isn't long term," so "once healthy, [the Astros] will have plenty."

Third baseman Alex Bregman will be a free agent following this season, and general manger Dana Brown has stated that they plan to give him an offer, but Bogusevic says contract extension talk won't distract Bregman from his play. "I don't think that's going to affect him at all" because "the better he performs, the better those negotiations are going to go."

When the Astros take the field for the beginning of the 2024 season, Bogusevic says he expects shortstop Jeremy Pena to "take big steps forward" and outfielder Jake Meyers to bounce back from injury. Meyers' "confidence has taken a hit," but "there's plenty of talent there" and "regular playing time will go a long way."

With the Astros a single win away from a World Series appearance last season, Bogusevic says the expectations for this season are the same. "This has been a World Series or bust team since 2015."