Jose

Altuve

Altuve just returned from a lengthy stay on the injured list on Friday, so it appears that the Astros are simply easing him back into full-time action. Nick Allen will start in his place at second base and will bat ninth for the Astros against A’s left-hander Gage Jump on Sunday afternoon in Houston.

Altuve made it back to Houston’s lineup less than three weeks after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, which is much faster than originally anticipated. The 36-year-old second baseman figures to hit behind a red-hot Isaac Paredes in the middle of the Astros lineup for now.

The 36-year-old makes his triumphant return to the Astros’ lineup on Friday after missing several weeks due to a strained oblique. On the season, he has slashed .245/.326/.380 with four homers, 12 RBI and just one stolen base through his first 185 plate appearances. He’s starting at second base and batting fifth for the Astros on Friday evening against the Athletics.

Altuve told reporters following Wednesday’s session that he’ll get another round facing live pitching before determining his next steps. It’s entirely possible he’s feeling ready and will skip a minor league rehab assignment altogether. The 36-year-old veteran has made a rapid recovery from an oblique strain that shelved him back in mid-May. Additional clarity on his status should arrive later this week.

There’s a chance Altuve is ready to jump back into Houston’s lineup without needing a minor league rehab assignment. The 36-year-old veteran has made a lightning-quick recovery from an oblique strain that put him on the shelf back in mid-May. Additional clarity on his status should arrive later this week.

It looks like Altuve may be able to jump back into Houston’s lineup without requiring any minor league game action to get back up to speed. How quickly that occurs remains a bit up in the air since he’ll need to face live pitching in a batting practice session prior to being activated. However, it doesn’t sound like he’s too far away. The 36-year-old has made a lightning-quick recovery from an oblique strain that put him on the injured list back in mid-May.

Altuve has been cleared to rejoin the Astros after spending a couple weeks rehabbing at the club’s spring training facility in Florida. It’s a bit unclear whether he’ll need a couple minor league contests to get back up to speed before being activated from the injured list, but it certainly seems like he’s close. Altuve has been on the shelf recovering from a left oblique strain since mid-May.

Altuve is starting to make some real progress after hitting the injured list with a left oblique strain last week. The 36-year-old second baseman will continue ramping up baseball activities and should be ready to head out on a minor league rehab assignment at some point in early June.

As expected, Altuve hits the injured list after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 oblique strain over the weekend. The 36-year-old veteran second baseman figures to miss at least one month, which puts him out until at least mid-June.

That figures to cost him at least a month. Brice Matthews started at second base today and could be the primary guy there while Altuve is out, though Braden Shewmake could also be in the mix once shortstop Jeremy Peña is activated.