Astros make Jose Altuve lineup decision after injury scare

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was forced to leave Tuesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants after he was hit by a pitch. On Wednesday, Altuve remains out of the lineup.

Instead, the second baseman is set to undergo another exam on his foot, via Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Diagnosed with a left foot contusion, Altuve is still dealing with quite a bit of pain.

“We’re going to take another one tomorrow just because of how sore this is,” Espada said on Tuesday about Altuve’s upcoming exam.

The fact he is dealing with “just” a contusion rather than a full on break is a good sign. However, the Astros won’t have further information until the second baseman undergoes his exam. Once Houston sees the results, they’ll be better able to formulate a return to play plan.

Entering Wednesday’s games, the Astros hold a half game lead over the competition for the AL West. Everyone on the roster is going to need to step up to earn a playoff berth let alone make a deep run. However, after looking dead in the water earlier in the season, the Astros’ postseason chances have now become more than feasible.

Through his first 96 games of the season, Altuve is hitting .240 with 13 home runs, 35 RBIs and two stolen bases. His numbers may not jump off the page, but Houston is well aware of what the second baseman brings to the table. He is a former MVP, a nine-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion.

Now though, the Astros just need him to be healthy. Once Altuve undergoes more tests, his franchise will know exactly where he stands.

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