Villar out of lineup with jammed right thumb

DETROIT -- Jonathan Villar was out of the starting lineup Wednesday against the Tigers with what manager Bo Porter said was a jammed right thumb. Marwin Gonzalez made his fourth start at shortstop (Villar has started the other 30 games).

Villar came on as a pinch-runner in the ninth inning of the Astros' 3-2 loss at Comerica Park, stealing second and third base before being stranded when Matt Dominguez struck out swinging to end the game.

Porter wanted to give Villar some time off to rest the thumb, which he injured fielding grounders on Tuesday. The shortstop said he'd be back in the lineup for Thursday's finale.

Villar has been one of the Astros' biggest bright spots this year, hitting .250 with five homers and 13 RBIs. He went 0-for-3 on Tuesday to snap a five-game hitting streak. He had reached base safely in 11 consecutive games prior to that.

Villar entered Wednesday leading the team in home runs, slugging percentage (.510) and OPS (.822), and he led all American League shortstops in home runs and extra-base hits (14), while ranking second in OPS.