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Astros manager Joe Espada said Sunday that Altuve (oblique) is expected to resume swinging a bat "in the next day or two," Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Altuve traveled with the Astros to Chicago for their series versus the Cubs but is slated to fly to Florida later Sunday as he begins his rehab program for the moderate left oblique strain that recently sent him to the injured list. He's already started playing catch again, but swinging the bat will represent a more meaningful step forward in his recovery from the oblique injury. Altuve still has multiple checkpoints to hit before being deemed ready for game action, but he seems to be making quicker progress than the Astros may have initially anticipated.
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Astros' Jose Altuve: Continuing rehab in Florida
Rotowire
Altuve (oblique) will head to the Astros' facility in Florida on Sunday to continue his rehab, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Altuve told McTaggart that he's feeling good, and while an oblique strain typically carries a multi-week recovery timetable, the veteran second baseman seems to be trending in the right direction. Braden Shewmake and Brice Matthews have been splitting starts at the keystone in Altuve's absence.
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Astros' Jose Altuve: Move to IL made official
Rotowire
The Astros placed Altuve on the 10-day injured list Monday with a left oblique strain.
Altuve has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain after injuring his oblique on a swing in Saturday's game versus the Rangers. The club has not offered a timeline for Altuve's return, but moderate oblique strains typically result in absences of at least 4-to-6 weeks. Brice Matthews should receive the bulk of the playing time at second base for Houston while Altuve is out.
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Astros' Jose Altuve: IL bound with oblique strain
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Manager Joe Espada announced after Sunday's loss to the Rangers that Altuve was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain and will be placed on the injured list, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Espada didn't offer an official return timeline, but the veteran second baseman seems likely to be sidelined for at least a month given the severity of the strain. Brice Matthews picked up a start at second base Sunday for Houston, but Braden Shewmake and Shay Whitcomb are also likely to be factors at the keystone while Altuve is out.
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Astros' Jose Altuve: Absent from lineup Sunday
Rotowire
Altuve (side) isn't in Houston's starting lineup Sunday against Texas.
It's not a surprise that Altuve isn't starting after he exited Saturday's matchup in the ninth inning with a left side injury. The star second baseman is slated to have an MRI taken Sunday, but GM Dana Brown said the "early signs" are that Altuve is dealing with an oblique injury, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Brice Matthews is starting at second base for the Astros on Sunday.
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Astros' Jose Altuve: Exits game with side injury
Rotowire
Altuve was removed in the ninth inning of Saturday's game against the Rangers due to a left side injury, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Altuve was holding his left side after grounding into a double play in the eighth inning and was then replaced by Nick Allen at second base. The Astros should have an update on Altuve's injury once the veteran second baseman undergoes tests Sunday, per Julia Morales of Space City Home Network. Altuve went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run prior to his exit Saturday. Allen or Shay Whitcomb should be the top candidates to start at second base in Sunday's series finale if Altuve is unable to play.
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Astros' Jose Altuve: Out of lineup Friday
Rotowire
Altuve is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Rangers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
With Altuve getting a breather against right-hander Jack Leiter, Brice Matthews will lead off and play second base for Houston. Altuve hasn't homered since April 17 and doesn't have an extra-base hit over his last six games. On the season, the 36-year-old is slashing .245/.328/.365 with three home runs, 11 RBI, 26 runs scored, one stolen base and a 19:34 BB:K across 181 trips to the dish.
Altuve is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
It's a routine day off for Altuve, who is celebrating his 36th birthday. The Astros are going with Brice Matthews at second base and in the leadoff spot in Wednesday's rubber match.
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Astros' Jose Altuve: Resting during Game 2
Rotowire
Altuve isn't in the lineup for the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against Baltimore, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
After going 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored during Game 1, Altuve will catch a breather during the nightcap while Brice Matthews starts at the keystone. Daniel Johnson will fill the resulting void in center field and bat eighth.
Altuve is out of the starting lineup Sunday versus the Yankees, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Altuve started the previous nine contests, but the veteran second baseman had just two hits over his past 20 at-bats, so he'll get a chance to recharge. Braden Shewmake is starting at second base for Houston in Altuve's stead Sunday.
Altuve went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 9-4 loss to the Cardinals.
Altuve took Kyle Leahy deep in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull Houston within one run. After batting .378 through the first 11 games of the season, Altuve is 8-for-38 (.211) over his last nine games. Altuve's homer Friday was his first RBI in that span. The second baseman is slashing .293/.404/.493 with three home runs, seven RBI, 15 runs scored, one stolen base and a 14:17 BB:K across 89 trips to the plate.
Altuve is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
Per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, manager Joe Espada said that Altuve's absence from the lineup is a routine rest day after the 35-year-old infielder started each of Houston's first 18 games. Isaac Paredes will spell Altuve at second base and will bat third.
Astros' Jose Altuve: Three hits in loss to Seattle
Rotowire
Altuve went 3-for-4 with a double in Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Mariners.
The Astros tallied five hits as a team Sunday, and Altuve accounted for three of those, as Logan Gilbert surrendered just one run on four hits across seven innings. Altuve continued his hot start to the 2026 season, slashing .333/.457/.526 with two home runs, six RBI, 12 runs scored, one stolen base and a 13:12 BB:K across 70 plate appearances.
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