Batting 4th helps Correa’s growth

Carlos Correa’s answer rarely changes — he’s able to pile up RBIs because Jose Altuve is always on base.

That’s pretty accurate. Entering Saturday, Altuve leads the major leagues in batting (.358) and is second in on-base percentage (.419). So opportunities are there for Correa, who has a team-high 88 RBIs. Of those, 55 have come since June 20, ranking second in the big leagues during that stretch.

“He gets on base a lot, and I try to drive him in every time he gets on base,” said Correa, who has RBIs in five of the last eight games.

Having an extra possible baserunner on doesn’t hurt either, with a surging Alex Bregman sandwiched between George Springer and Altuve. Before, Luis Valbuena and Marwin Gonzalez were productive as No. 2 hitters.

But part of the equation is the second-year player’s growth in the sport.

Correa uses the entire field to produce runs. Five of his 19 home runs are to the opposite field, including Friday’s game-tying solo shot.

“I don’t walk out there like I’m a 21-year-old baseball player,” he said. “I walk out there with a lot of confidence and try to do the best I can to help my team win.”

Added Astros manager A.J. Hinch: “One of the parts that’s growing within Correa is his understanding of the game and how to produce runs. You can see it in the way he hits to the opposite field, you can see it in how he accepts whatever the defense gives you and will put a ball in play to get an RBI.

“For whatever reason, moving him to the cleanup spot has forced him to appreciate the run-production side of his responsibilities.”