HOUSTON -- After being activated from the injured list Friday and playing the first two games of the series against the A’s, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was out of the lineup for Sunday’s homestand finale at Daikin Park. Manager Joe Espada said it was a day of rest for Altuve.
Altuve, who missed three weeks with a strained left oblique, went 1-for-4 in Friday’s win and homered in Saturday’s win. The homer was the 260th of Altuve’s career and his 240th as a second baseman, surpassing Lou Whitaker for the 10th-most home runs by a second baseman, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Nick Allen started at second base Sunday in Altuve’s absence.
Altuve returned from his oblique injury after only three weeks and didn’t need a Minor League rehab assignment. He chose to have live batting practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday at Daikin Park to gauge his readiness for game action and didn’t have any issues.
Altuve was back in the lineup Friday for the first time since May 16, when he hit a hit a leadoff homer off Jacob deGrom in a 4-1 win over the Rangers before leaving the game in pain after hitting into a double play in the eighth inning. He underwent an MRI the following day and was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 18. Altuve was slashing .245/.326/.380 with four homers and 12 RBIs in 42 games at the time of his injury.