WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Gauging who has the advantage in the battle for playing time between Kyle Tucker and Josh Reddick could come early in spring training.

“The longer it goes, the more it’s in Reddick’s favor,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said Thursday. “The shorter it goes, the more it’s in the younger player’s favor.”

Baker gave no indication of who would appear in Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener against the Washington Nationals, but did acknowledge his veterans will receive “one or two at-bats” during the first few games before younger players enter.

Barring an injury or ineffectiveness, both Reddick and Tucker are ensured to break camp on the 26-man opening day roster. Who will earn the starting spot seems contingent on early returns in Grapefruit League play.

Reddick, who is entering the final season of his four-year, $52 million deal, spent most of his offseason recovering from left shoulder surgery. He’s failed to eclipse a .730 OPS in either of the last two seasons. He had a .676 OPS during the second half of last season, but did experience a production surge in September upon Tucker’s arrival.

Though he took only 72 major league plate appearances in September, Tucker made all three postseason rosters and seemed to shake the effort-related questions that surrounded him. Ten of his 18 hits garnered extra bases. The bold baserunning he brought was a surprise, too.

Still, Tucker had a subpar showing during spring training last season, earning an earlier than expected demotion to minor league camp. Replicating that performance may open the door for Reddick.

“The younger players, I’m telling you, they start out generally hotter and sooner because it seems to take them less time to get ready, to get loose,” Baker said. “Plus, early in the spring, it lends itself to a fastball hitter because that’s the only pitch they can really get over. If a pitcher gets his breaking ball over then he’s almost unhittable because no one is prepared to hit that.”