HOUSTON -- When Astros second baseman Jose Altuve initially felt the sharp pain in his left oblique while swinging the bat on May 16, he expected the worst. Altuve initially believed he would be out of action around five to six weeks because of his strained left oblique, perhaps keeping him out of action into July.
Those who know Altuve well have all said the same thing -- he’s a quick healer. He spent three weeks on the injured list in 2023 with a similar injury and returned to the Astros’ lineup on Friday night against the A’s after another three-week absence. Altuve went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in Houston's 5-1 win.
"I'm excited, obviously,” he said. “I've been working really hard these last three weeks, whatever it was, to come back and play. I love playing and I love being with the team. Hopefully I can stay there and stay healthy all season around."
Instead of going out on a Minor League rehab assignment, Altuve chose to have live batting practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday at Daikin Park to gauge his readiness for game action. He didn’t have any issues and was back in the lineup, batting fifth. Zach Dezenzo was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land to make room for him.
“He looks ready, he’s healthy and we need him in there,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “Excited to have him back. Lengthens our lineup, obviously, and brings one of our leaders back in the lineup. We need him. It’s a big series against the A’s. And it just feels like everything is kind of coming together, getting all these players back.”
In the Astros’ 4-1 win over the Rangers on May 16, Altuve hit a leadoff homer off of Jacob deGrom and left 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.
Altuve said the two live batting practice sessions were enough to have him trusting his swing is where it needs to be.
“I feel I can go out there and help the team,” he said. “I gotta focus, like the other guys have been focusing and playing. I’ve got to do the same thing. It’s a matter of time and I want to help the team. Hopefully we start a winning streak today and go from there.”
On the day Altuve went on the IL in May, shortstop Jeremy Peña was activated after missing five-plus weeks with a hamstring strain, so the middle infielders haven’t been on the field much together this year. The club activated All-Star closer Josh Hader from the injured list before Tuesday’s game, marking his first time on the active roster this year, and ace Hunter Brown -- who has been on the IL since the end of March -- could return to the rotation next week.
As the Astros get healthier, that gives them hope they can get back into the thick of the playoff race. Houston entered the weekend 5 1/2 games back of the American League West-leading Mariners and three games out of the second Wild Card spot in the AL.
“All the guys are actually working really hard to get at their top level, and I’m working hard to get at my top level, too, and if that happens, we can make a push and hopefully win and try to catch the teams in front of us,” Altuve said.