Porter on board with Altuve playing in all 162

ARLINGTON -- Astros second baseman Jose Altuve told reporters last month one of his goals for 2014 was to play in 162 games for the first time this year, and manager Bo Porter said Saturday he's on board with that as long as Altuve is healthy.

Altuve, 23, played in a career-high 152 games last year, missing a few days with a strained quadriceps muscle and four games last May while on the bereavement list following the death of his grandmother. He has started the Astros' first 12 games this season.

"Altuve's done a great job getting his body in shape," Porter said. "He is really locked into his profession and being ready to play each and every day, and I don't see any reason why he wouldn't play every day unless something physically was to happen. Him being one of the better players on our team, every day he's out there, I feel a whole lot better about winning."

No Astros player has appeared in all 162 games in a season since Carlos Lee in 2007. Prior to Lee, the previous Astros player to play in every game was Jeff Bagwell, who did it in 1992, 1996, 1997 and 1999. Craig Biggio also played in 162 games in 1992, 1996 and 1997.

"Given any unforeseen health issues, every day Jose Altuve is in the lineup, we're a better team," Porter said.