4:00pm: Altuve tells Chandler Rome of The Athletic that his MRI showed good news, as the issue is more minor than he was expecting. He didn’t want to put a specific timeline on his return but said he’s hoping to be back shortly after the All-Star break, per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle.
2:35pm: The Astros announced Thursday that second baseman Jose Altuve has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to discomfort in his left oblique. The move is retroactive to July 4. Houston also optioned lefty Parker Mushinski to Triple-A Sugar Land and recalled infielder David Hensley and righty Ronel Blanco in a pair of corresponding moves. Blanco is slated to start tonight in the first of a four-game set against the division-rival Mariners.
Altuve has been out of the lineup the past couple of days after experiencing discomfort in that oblique during batting practice Tuesday. Manager Dusty Baker had already indicated that he’d be held out for a few more games, and the team will opt for a formal IL stint in order to operate with a full bench during an important series against a division rival that is within striking distance of Houston in the AL Wild Card chase. Altuve will now be out until at least next Friday, though the team hasn’t provided an expected timetable for his return. It’s possible he’ll be sidelined beyond that 10-day minimum, but it’s of at least some note that Houston didn’t list the injury as a “strain.”
It’s been a productive season for Altuve — when he’s been healthy enough to take the field, that is. This will be his second IL stint of the season, after he missed the first seven weeks of the 2023 season due to a broken thumb suffered during this year’s World Baseball Classic. Altuve, who just turned 33 a couple days ago, has posted a .264/.371/.479 batting line (138 wRC+) with six home runs, eight doubles, five steals, a 14% walk rate and a 17.5% walk rate in 143 plate appearances when healthy.
During Altuve’s prior absence, utilityman Mauricio Dubon stepped up and filled in more than capably. He’s been in a part-time role since that point but figures to pick up regular at-bats with Altuve sidelined a second time. In 284 plate appearances this season, the 28-year-old Dubon has posted a .292/.317/.417 slash with four homers, 18 doubles, two triples and five steals. He’s walked at just a 3.5% clip but has excelled at making contact, evidenced by a tiny 12% strikeout rate.
Did his Buzzing Cheater Device shortcircuit and shock him?
I thought shock therapy was supposed to help heal an oblique issue? Guess not!
Still living rent free!!!! I absolutely love this. Boo and hiss some more while we shine the trophies??
No, Terry… just recounting cheaters and yore from yesteryear, aye. I, for one, have forgiven your Stros… but we’re all allowed to remember. 😉
A Dodger fan friend of mine will never forgive the Astros.
People can hold grudges and be bitter if they want.
Because he’s a loser.
Los Karens are always here to cry about the Astros, we can always count on their tears.
MLB and Astros forever tainted MLB. This type of cheating that was on displayed absolutely horrible for the sport of baseball. Way worse than ANY steroid era
Not the 2021 trophy. That Soler flare still hasn’t come down. Thoughts & prayers to Houstonians when it does.
once altuve, bregman, and mccullers are gone or retired and jim crane no longer owns the team, then i’ll move on. until then, it’s fun to poke the bear aka those astro fans in denial that no taint exists over their team. The same usually quick to whine about dodger fans not getting over it.
The owners need to shine the pile of gold Manfred swept under the rug… Jeff Luhnow says its dusty under there
Maybe they needed a few days downtime to replace the battery in his buzzer? Even pacemakers need replacement….
Your wife needs new batteries for her buzzer. Just asking questions.
good. f houston
Offense looked good the last few games without Altuve. 10-day IL retroactive to July 4th for Altuve and July 14th is first game back from All star break, so this all seems intentional to give him rest. First game after the all star break they should have Alvarez and Urquidy back too for the following lineup: Altuve, Pena, Bregman, Tucker, Alvarez, Abreu, Dubon, McCormick, Diaz. Looks pretty damn solid to me.
He chose dishonesty over living with honor. Every time a health issue befalls him or a family member it is a sign of the universe balancing things out. He only has himself to blame.
Good luck wiping every player and team Beltran played for / coached / worked in the broadcast boothe for. He carried the cheating ways with him from team to team, not Altuve. Half the players in baseball have played with Beltran and were exposed like Altuve was. Might go ahead and find a new sport to enjoy since Beltran tainted the entire game of baseball, hard to boo and hate Altuve for something Beltran spread around the entire sport.
Hmm..so bad things don’t just happen? They happen because of the bad things we did in the past?
Jose Ouchtuve must have had a short circuit in his buzzer.
I am sure Altuve will cite your insightful comment in his Hall of Fame speech.
Only buzzer is yo head punko.
More like hall of flame – along with the likes of finger wag Raffy Palmeiro and all the steroid cheats
Altuve is no good. They should throw him in the trash can near the dugout.
I was probably right when I predicted a Texas team would win the AL West. The only thing is, I expected the other one to win, but now, who knows?
Rangers looking good this year. Could very well happen. Been a while I’m sure Rangers fans are ready.
Nah.
while I’d prefer the Rangers out of the two, I still think the Astros take it.
Will be fun to see. Hopefully we can get a little healthy over the break and help your cause the first series back.
The cynic in me wants to say he’s ducked out of the All Star game and subsequent booing ever since news of the cheating scandal broke.
But this will require him to miss games that matter so it is probably real.
Your inner cynic needs a philosophy transplant.
The Houston Hydra won’t die for a while. For the last few seasons, Astros have proven how good their B Team can be. Like the Hydra, when one head falls, another grows in its place.
I like the song ” 99″ from Toto’s Hydra.
Great outro
For sure, Gwynnster!
Patch and Lukather got it done!
Dubon is just as good in the lineup right now as Altuve is. Much more worried about when Yordan comes back.
Nick Madrigal will be off IL in two weeks great replacement guy
It must be amazing believing the Astros are the only team to have ever cheated.
Patriots too, lol
M M M midget
He got hurt changing – he shy