Correa day to day due to sore left hamstring

MINNEAPOLIS -- An anticipated matchup between two of the American League's top rookies will have to wait. On Friday, Carlos Correa was out of the Astros' lineup for the second straight game while nursing a sore left hamstring and Twins slugger Miguel Sano also did not start the series opener due to his own sore hamstring.

For Astros manager A.J. Hinch, the decision to sit Correa was a no-brainer with his club entering Friday with a five-game lead in the AL West.

"Coming out of the off-day, it's unfortunate that he had a little bit of soreness and when he reported it, it was an easy decision for me to say he's not going to play, which is not great news to him because he loves to come to the ballpark and play every day," Hinch said. "At this juncture of the season, he's too important, these games are too important. There's no reason to risk furthering a little bit of soreness."

Correa has 294 plate appearances in 68 games since being called up and cited the "everyday grind," getting to him. Hinch said Correa is day to day, but the Astros will be careful not to rush him back. Hinch, too, mentioned the "grind of the season," taking a bit of a toll on Correa and the skipper said he didn't think the hamstring soreness was anything too serious.

"I think over the last few weeks, there's a little bit of fatigue in there, but we'll get him back to 100 percent and feeling better," Hinch said.

In the meantime, there are no limitations on Correa, who is eager to get back to action as soon as possible.

"He's doing everything, including pacing during the game. In New York [against the Yankees], he was a caged animal," Hinch said. "He will be even more so after a full day off and in the first game of the series [at Target Field]."