Altuve gets rare off-day in Yanks series finale

HOUSTON -- Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was out of the starting lineup for the second time this season for Sunday’s series finale against the Yankees at Daikin Park. Altuve had started 27 of the Astros’ first 28 games -- 25 at second base and two at designated hitter. The off-day was not related to any sort of injury, and was instead simply to give Altuve some rest.

Braden Shewmake, who was acquired in a trade with the Yankees on April 19, made his first start of the season for the Astros, at second base. Houston has used 29 different starting lineups in 29 games, with Yordan Alvarez the only player to start every game in the same spot in the lineup (second).

Altuve is slashing .260/.358/.413 with three homers and eight RBIs this year, but is batting .194 (13-for-67) in his past 16 games.

Altuve appeared in his 2,000th career game Tuesday in Cleveland, joining Hall of Famers Jeff Bagwell (2,150) and Craig Biggio (2,850) as the only Astros players to reach that mark. He also became the third player in Major League history to appear in 2,000 games with a .300 career batting average, 2,400 hits, 450 doubles, 250 homers, 850 RBIs and 300 steals, joining Willie Mays and Derek Jeter.

During the spring, Altuve said he hoped to be able to play in 155 games this year. Altuve, who turns 36 next month, has played in a team-high 335 games since the start of 2024.