The Houston Astros are holding their breath after Jose Altuve left Saturday’s 6-2 win over Atlanta with right foot discomfort. The veteran second baseman is listed as day-to-day, but any extended absence could derail Houston’s playoff push.
Altuve exited in the third inning after being forced out at second base on a fielder’s choice. The 35-year-old All-Star walked off the field with no visible limp, according to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, and Ramon Urias took over defensively.
He’d gone 1-for-2 with a third-inning single before the injury struck. Altuve declined to speak with reporters after the game, though he was seen moving around the clubhouse.
Here’s the thing – Houston can’t afford to lose Altuve right now. Not with 13 games left and the AL West hanging in the balance.
The Astros (81-68) are tied with Seattle for the division lead, while Texas sits just two games back at 79-70. Every game matters, and every player matters even more.
That’s especially true for Altuve on a team that’s struggled to score runs consistently this year. The nine-time All-Star is slashing .264/.327/.443 over 144 games with 25 home runs and 70 RBI. Going into Saturday’s game, he led the Astros in games played, at-bats, hits, and home runs.
Manager Joe Espada explained the decision to pull his veteran infielder:
“When he ran the base on that [fielder’s choice], he said, ‘My foot is bothering me.’ We took him out just to be cautious.”
The cautious approach makes sense given the circumstances. Better to miss a game or two now than risk a longer absence down the stretch.
Houston wraps up it’s series with the Braves today at 1:35 p.m. ET, with Framber Valdez (12-9, 3.42 ERA) taking the mound. All eyes will be on whether Altuve’s in the lineup – or how long the Astros might have to navigate without their veteran leader.
