Houston’s 4-1 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night came with a gut punch of its own, as Jose Altuve left the game after an awkward swing that sent the veteran second baseman straight to the dugout clutching his left side. The Astros scheduled imaging for Sunday and spent the night waiting on scans that will determine whether their longtime spark plug is headed for the injured list.
What Happened
In the bottom of the eighth, Altuve rolled a grounder to the left side on a one-handed swing and never left the batter’s box. He grimaced, then walked directly to the dugout and on to the clubhouse with trainers. After the game, manager Joe Espada said Altuve “felt something on the left side” and that the club would get imaging the next morning, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Imaging Set for Sunday
Espada said the team would wait on the test results before making any roster calls, while video of the swing zipped around social media. For now, the Astros are officially labeling it left-side discomfort as they await the scans, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
Roster Strain Deepens
The timing could hardly be worse for Houston. The Astros entered Saturday with 14 players already sitting on the injured list, and third baseman Carlos Correa had season-ending ankle surgery earlier in the week. First baseman Christian Walker called the whole situation “frustrating” and said the team has to “find a way to win” in spite of all the absences, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Altuve's History With Side Injuries
Altuve has dealt with left-side issues before, including oblique problems in 2023, which helps explain why the Astros are treating any new soreness with extra caution. He had appeared in 41 of Houston’s first 47 games and entered Saturday hitting .245/.328/.365 with four home runs and a 96 OPS-plus, numbers that make even a brief absence sting, per MLB Trade Rumors.
What to Watch
All eyes now turn to Sunday’s imaging results. Altuve told reporters he would wait to speak until he knows more. Nick Allen took over at second base in the ninth and could see an uptick in playing time depending on what the scans reveal as the Astros head to Minnesota, according to Yahoo Sports.
