MLB Player News

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve returned from a slight groin strain that caused him to miss two games to go 1 for 4 with one RBI in Saturday's game against the Royals.

Altuve picked right up where he left off, as the sixth-inning single extended his hitting streak to nine games. He owns a .297 batting average in 236 at-bats.

The Astros got back the services of second baseman Jose Altuve (groin) Saturday in Kansas City. Altuve missed two games with a slight groin strain. 

Batting .297 on the season with three homers and 22 RBI, Altuve is on an eight-game hitting streak in which he's gone 9 for 36 (.250) with one homer and one RBI. 

If Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa is feeling better in the next few days, he will likely resume baseball activities. Espinosa had a cortisone injection Thursday in his fractured right wrist, and the team is waiting to see how he responds before moving forward, according to The Washington Times. 

"From my understanding, the break and the little chip that’s separated from it is not in a position where it can cause any more irritation," manager Davey Johnson said Saturday, without putting a specific timeline on Espinosa's resumption of activities. "And the major bone has probably had enough time to calm down. So hopefully he won’t have a whole lot of discomfort, no weakness in the hand. He was playing through it pretty good.”

Johnson also reiterated that Espinosa's torn rotator cuff is not a concern, and will not have any impact on when he can return from the disabled list. The wrist remains his only concern, after he opted to avoid surgery on the shoulder.

"The shoulder, he did a lot of exercising to strengthen all the muscles around the rotator cuff," Johnson said. "The doctors decided to go that route instead. Maybe we’re past it. I don’t know. That will be something we have to look at in the offseason."

Espinosa may not return to the majors when he comes off the disabled list. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was out of the lineup for the second day in a row Friday, as he continues to deal with a slight groin strain. 

According to the team's radio analyst, Altuve could have played Friday, but the team is being careful with him. He will likely return to the starting lineup Saturday. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve missed Thursday's game with a groin injury, and is hoping to return Saturday, according to the Houston Chronicle. 

Altuve is likely to miss Friday's game, though it's unclear if he'll be available to pinch hit. He would be eligible to return Saturday against Royals starter Ervin Santana. 

Altuve is hitting .297/.335/.397 in 232 at-bats this season. 

Nationals shortstop Danny Espinosa had an MRI on his fractured right wrist as well as his left shoulder, neither of which revealed anything surprising. In fact, the MRI on his shoulder showed that the torn left rotator cuff he suffered last season is not a big problem.

While the team did not go into much detail, MLB.com described it as just "a little injury," indicating that it has healed well without surgery.

Espinosa is expected to resume baseball activities in four to five days after having a cortisone shot in his wrist. 

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa received a cortisone injection into his injured wrist, manager Davey Johnson told reporters Thursday. He should be cleared to resume baseball activities in 4-5 days.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve has a slight groin issue, which is why he's not in the team's lineup Thursday, according to the Houston Chronicle. 

Altuve is expected to return Friday against Royals starter James Shields. Marwin Gonzalez will replace Altuve at second and hit ninth Thursday. 

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus broke open a 1-all game with a two-run double in the seventh inning Wednesday against the Red Sox, sending Texas to a 3-2 win. Since May 3, Andrus is batting .279 (34 for 122) in his last 30 games, sending his average from .241 to .261.

Andrus also has a triple, four doubles, nine stolen bases, 10 walks, 12 RBI and 22 runs in his last 30 games. But he has yet to homer in 57 games this season.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is not in the team's lineup Thursday.

Altuve has played in 56 games and doesn't often miss time. He's coming off a game in which he hit his third home run of the season. He'll be replaced by Marwin Gonzalez, who will hit ninth. 

Altuve is hitting .297/.335/.397 in 232 at-bats.