Astros’ Jose Altuve injury update puts him on path to return soon

The Houston Astros have struggled mightily this season, putting themselves in a big hole if they want to get back to the playoffs. Injuries have played a part in that demise, especially to some of their top pitchers as well as Jose Altuve. Standout designated hitter Yordan Alvarez also picked up an injury on Saturday, though it doesn’t seem to be serious.

Altuve has been out since May 16 with an oblique injury, causing him to miss the last six games. He is also slated to miss Sunday’s series finally at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs, which will make it seven games in a row that the Astros will be without their star second baseman.

However, Houston did get some good news about Altuve’s status on Sunday before the game. The nine-time All-Star was seen playing catch on the field during pregame warmups on Sunday. Manager Joe Espada also said that Altuve is expected to start swinging a bat very soon while doing the next stage of his rehab down in Florida, per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle.

“Jose Altuve is expected to resume swinging a bat ‘in the next day or two’ after arriving in Florida to continue his rehab from the oblique strain, Joe Espada said,” Kawahara reported on X, formerly Twitter.

Espada and company will be hoping that Altuve can find his footing after returning from injury in a way that he really didn’t before leaving the lineup. The former AL MVP is hitting just .245 in 42 games this season with four home runs and 12 RBI. For Houston to be at the park of its powers and find the momentum needed to get back in the playoff picture, it will need better production out of Altuve.

Still, Houston has its work cut out for it in the coming days with Altuve still out of the lineup. After the Astros look to sweep the Cubs on Sunday, they will have a three-game set against the Texas Rangers for a three-game series against a very good Milwaukee Brewers squad.

The post Astros’ Jose Altuve injury update puts him on path to return soon appeared first on ClutchPoints.