Astros’ Jose Altuve injury deals injury blow to Houston amid rough start to season

The Houston Astros suffered another potential setback Saturday after Jose Altuve exited Houston’s 4-1 win over the Texas Rangers with soreness on his left side. Astros manager Joe Espada said Altuve will undergo an MRI on Sunday after the veteran infielder appeared injured while grounding into a double play in the eighth inning.

Altuve took an awkward swing and immediately failed to run out of the batter’s box. He was seen holding his left side and grimacing while walking back to the dugout, where Espada and a trainer met him before Nick Allen replaced him at second base in the ninth inning.

“He said he kind of felt something on the left side,” Espada said after the game. “Obviously, not good [that] he couldn’t even get out of the box and run.”

Before leaving, Altuve continued adding to his career accomplishments. He opened the game with his fourth home run of the 2026 season, marking the 42nd leadoff homer of his career. The solo shot also gave him 38 regular-season home runs against Texas, the most he has hit against any opponent. Moreover, it was his 239th career homer as a second baseman, tying Lou Whitaker for seventh-most all-time among players at the position.

The nine-time All-Star is batting .245 with 12 RBIs this season for Houston, which improved to 19-28 with Saturday’s win.
The possible injury comes at a difficult time for the Astros, who already entered the game with 14 players on the injured list. Starting catcher Yainer Diaz, third baseman Carlos Correa, shortstop Jeremy Pena, left fielder Joey Loperfido, center fielder Jake Meyers, pitchers Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier, and closer Josh Hader are among the prominent players currently sidelined. Pena and Meyers could return Monday.

Altuve previously missed 20 days during the 2023 season because of a left oblique injury.

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