Astros infielder Jed Lowrie, who’s been out since April with a torn thumb ligament, is off the disabled list and back in the starting lineup ... at third base.
At the time of the injury Lowrie was Houston’s starting shortstop, but since then stud prospect Carlos Correa has taken over the position for the next decade or so. When the Astros signed Lowrie to a three-year, $23 million deal this offseason they did so knowing Correa was nearly MLB-ready, so the move to third base was expected.
Luis Valbuena has been the Astros’ primary third baseman and he’s provided good power with 19 homers in 85 games, but that comes with a lowly .200 batting average and .698 OPS. Lowrie was off to a great start before the injury and is a career .262 hitter with a .748 OPS.
