Reed hit his 31st and 32 home runs of the season Tuesday for Triple-A Fresno, tying him for the minor-league lead across all levels.

EDGE Analysis

Reed has clearly mastered the Pacific Coast League and looks bound to receive a promotion to the Astros on Friday when rosters expand or soon after, but he likely won't be in store for much more than the occasional spot start or pinch-hitting opportunity during September. While he has significant upside as a power hitter, Reed has yet to tap into it at the major-league level, with his swing-and-miss tendencies proving to be a major obstacle. He's struck out in 33.3 percent of his 147 career plate appearances with the Astros.

Reed was sent back to Triple-A Fresno after Friday's game, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Reed went 0-for-6 in a pair of appearances since his call-up on Monday. The second-rounder's time will come, but this Astros team is stacked with options to cover first base and designated hitter, so he'll go back to Fresno for regular at-bats.

Reed was recalled from Triple-A Fresno on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Reed's long-term outlook has dimmed quite a bit after he hit just .164 while striking out in 34 percent of his plate appearances with the Astros last season, but he still profiles as an above-average power source at the big-league level. The 24-year-old has maintained that reputation by slugging 22 home runs and 40 extra-base hits in total in 427 plate appearances with Fresno in 2017, which should at least make him a decent weapon off the bench for the Astros while he sticks around in the majors. With Yulieski Gurriel locked in as the everyday first baseman, however, Reed will be hard pressed to pick up more than a start or two per week.

Reed was optioned to Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though Reed enjoyed an excellent spring, slashing .306/.444./667 with four homers and 11 RBI over 36 at-bats in Grapefruit League play, the Astros didn't have a full-time role available for him with manager A.J. Hinch casting his lot with Yulieski Gurriel and Carlos Beltran at first base and DH, respectively, to begin the season. Despite the prospect hype surrounding him heading into last season, Reed was unable to translate his minor-league success into quality production in the big leagues, so it looks like he'll now have to bide his time in the minors and wait for an injury to open up another opportunity with the Astros.

Reed, who is hitting .360 with four homers and 10 RBI this spring, has made "things interesting," according to Houston manager A.J. Hinch, but the team remains committed to Yulieski Gurriel at first base, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hinch added that the Astros will almost certainly carry 13 pitchers to start the season, so the position-player group will be tough to crack despite Reed's stellar spring training. At the very least, Reed has put last season's debut in the majors behind him. If he maintains a hot bat at Triple-A Fresno, he's put himself in position to be called up once the Astros are comfortable with 12 pitchers.

Reed started at first base and went 1-for-3 with his third home run of the spring in Friday's game against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

Reed is having himself a nice spring, similar to last year when he was the subject of chatter among fantasy owners preparing for drafts and auctions. The left-handed hitter went on to post a .164 average in 122 at-bats at the major league in 2016. He's in a different situation this spring. The Astros have a projected starter at first base in Yulieski Gurriel, so the 23-year-old Reed will likely start the season at Triple-A Fresno, he's put himself back on the radar after last season's poor first impression in MLB.

Reed is 6-for-19 with two home runs and five RBI through 11 spring games, but is considered a long-shot to break camp with Houston, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Reed showed he wasn't quite ready for the majors last season after wowing spring onlookers in 2016. The good swings he's putting on balls this spring is encouraging in that the first baseman is rebounding from adversity, but until he's doing it for real in the regular season, Reed's nothing more than a speculative play. Yulieski Gurriel is slated to start the season at first base while the Astros probably don't want to use up a roster spot on a 1B/DH type. That said, at his ceiling, Reed's a left-handed power bat that could be useful.

Reed will need to hit his way onto the Astros' Opening Day roster, according to manager A.J. HInch, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Reed's prospect status took a big hit last season when he batted just .164 with three home runs, three doubles and a .532 OPS in 122 at-bats for the Astros. The bat is the skill that got him to the majors, so if he ain't hitting. Reed isn't "relevant on our team," in the words of Hinch. The big-bodied first baseman gained some weight over the course of last season and, in addition to finding his hitting stroke, will need to maintain mobility to stay on the field. At 23, it's a bit early in the career to be a one-dimensional, DH-only player -- not in today's MLB where roster flexibility is paramount. We expect him to start the season at Triple-A Fresno.

Reed remains out of the lineup Sunday against the Rangers, Angel Verdejo of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Since his Aug. 2 call-up, Reed has once again struggled to establish himself as a big-league hitter, going 11-for-62 (.177 average) with one homer over that span. He'll now hit the bench for the seventh time in nine games, ceding first base to Tyler White.

Reed is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rangers, according to Angel Verdejo of the Houston Chronicle.

EDGE Analysis

The Astros are going with a righty-heavy lineup against Rangers starter Derek Holland, so Reed will open Saturday's game on the bench, and Yulieski Gurriel will get a look at first base.