Bregman is out of the lineup Sunday against the Athletics.

EDGE Analysis

According to Kaplan, it's strictly a rest day for Bregman, who has come out the gate a bit sluggish this season with a .250/.340/.310 batting line across 98 plate appearances. Manager A.J. Hinch attributed some of Bregman's early struggles to the youngster's unorthodox spring training schedule due to the World Baseball Classic, but the Astros remain optimistic he'll heat up before long. Marwin Gonzalez will spell Bregman at third base Sunday.

Bregman batted ninth for the first time in his brief career Saturday, going 1-for-3 in Houston's 2-1 loss to Oakland.

EDGE Analysis

Bregman has made the slide from second to sixth and now ninth in the order, which suggests he's not performing well but that's really not the case. He's hit safely in 18 of the 24 games played and is 9-for-20 with runners in scoring position, including 5-for-9 with two outs. Bregman has good plate discipline and puts together good at-bats but his .060 ISO isn't worthy of a middle-of-the-order placement.

Bregman went 1-for-4 with a walk in Sunday's 6-4 extra-inning win over the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Bregman's fourth-inning single extended his hitting streak to a modest five games. Since being dropped from the two-hole to sixth in the order, Bregman has hit .310 (9-for-29) with three doubles, three RBI and five walks over the last nine games.

Bregman is playing third base and batting sixthWednesday against the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

Bregman is off to a shaky start through nine games, hitting just .212 (7-for-33) with one RBI, one run and one stolen base. He'll stay in the lineup, but manager A.J. Hinch will slide him down to sixth in the order while Josh Reddick jumps up to second, so we'll see how the youngster responds at the plate.

Bregman is out of the lineup Thursday against the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

The young infielder has gotten off to a sluggish start at the plate (2-for-12), so he'll get the day off to rest prior to Houston's weekend series with the Royals. Marwin Gonzalez will man the hot corner in his stead.

Bregman went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base in Monday's 3-0 win over the Mariners on Opening Day.

EDGE Analysis

Bregman hit out of the two-hole, a favorable spot between George Springer and Jose Altuve that should enhance the young third baseman's offense in 2017. In addition to the steal, after a sixth-inning walk, he went first-to-third on an Altuve single and then scored on a Carlos Correa sacrifice fly. That sequence hints at the ways his spot in the batting order will elevate his offensive production in 2017.

Manager A.J. Hinch confirmed Wednesday that he would use Bregman has his No. 2 hitter to begin the season, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bregman has occupied that slot in the batting order for much of the spring, so Hinch's announcement doesn't come as a major surprise. The third baseman, who will turn 23 years old Thursday, struggled out of the gate in his first exposure to big-league pitching last summer, but closed the season out on a high note, delivering a .264/.313/.478 slash line over 217 plate appearances. Bregman flashed some burgeoning pop between the minors and big leagues last season to go with his impressive hit tool, and a cushy spot in the lineup between George Springer and Jose Altuve should allow him to rack up runs in his sophomore campaign.

Bregman will return to training camp after the World Baseball Classic ends and is expected to play in a Grapefruit League game Friday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bregman has barely played in the WBC and really needs to get some at-bats in game action before the regular season hits. That's why he'll hit the ground running in Houston while Carlos Correa and Carlos Beltran will resume spring training Saturday.

Bregman got is first at-bat of the World Baseball Classic in Team USA's 8-0 victory over Canada on Sunday, Hunter Atkins of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

To see the promising Bregman get so little playing time bothers Houston manager A.J. Hinch, who would like to see his player get more at-bats and playing time. Bregman is expected to be Houston's starting third baseman this spring, but won't have the benefit of a full training camp due to his participation in the WBC.

Bregman will represent the United States in the World Baseball Classic, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 22-year-old Bregman, Houston's first-round pick (second overall) in 2015, has been a quick-riser through the system. After beginning 2016 at Double-A Corpus Christi, he worked his way up to MLB, where he held his own in 49 games. He's expected to start the 2017 as the Astros' starting third baseman with a spot in the upper half of the batting order.