4:00pm: Altuve tells Chandler Rome of The Athletic that his MRI confirmed excellent news, as the difficulty is extra minor than he was anticipating. He didn’t wish to put a particular timeline on his return however mentioned he’s hoping to be again shortly after the All-Star break, per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle.

2:35pm: The Astros introduced Thursday that second baseman Jose Altuve has been positioned on the 10-day injured checklist because of discomfort in his left indirect. The transfer is retroactive to July 4. Houston additionally optioned lefty Parker Mushinski to Triple-A Sugar Land and recalled infielder David Hensley and righty Ronel Blanco in a pair of corresponding strikes. Blanco is slated to start out tonight within the first of a four-game set towards the division-rival Mariners.

Altuve has been out of the lineup the previous couple of days after experiencing discomfort in that indirect throughout batting apply Tuesday. Supervisor Dusty Baker had already indicated that he’d be held out for a number of extra video games, and the staff will go for a proper IL stint to be able to function with a full bench throughout an vital sequence towards a division rival that’s inside placing distance of Houston within the AL Wild Card chase. Altuve will now be out till no less than subsequent Friday, although the staff hasn’t supplied an anticipated timetable for his return. It’s potential he’ll be sidelined past that 10-day minimal, however it’s of no less than some notice  that Houston didn’t checklist the harm as a “pressure.”

It’s been a productive season for Altuve — when he’s been wholesome sufficient to take the sector, that’s. This shall be his second IL stint of the season, after he missed the primary seven weeks of the 2023 season because of a damaged thumb suffered throughout this 12 months’s World Baseball Traditional. Altuve, who simply turned 33 a pair days in the past, has posted a .264/.371/.479 batting line (138 wRC+) with six house runs, eight doubles, 5 steals, a 14% stroll fee and a 17.5% stroll fee in 143 plate appearances when wholesome.

Throughout Altuve’s prior absence, utilityman Mauricio Dubon stepped up and stuffed in additional than capably. He’s been in a part-time position since that time however figures to select up common at-bats with Altuve sidelined a second time. In 284 plate appearances this season, the 28-year-old Dubon has posted a .292/.317/.417 slash with 4 homers, 18 doubles, two triples and 5 steals. He’s walked at only a 3.5% clip however has excelled at making contact, evidenced by a tiny 12% strikeout fee.