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Astros Make Injury Announcement Before Athletics Game
Astros Make Injury Announcement Before Athletics Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Maybe Major League Baseball knew what they were doing when they listed Houston Astros left fielder Jose Altuve as a second baseman on the All-Star Game ballot.
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As of Wednesday evening, Altuve may be in line for more reps at second. The Astros placed starting second baseman Brendan Rodgers on the injured list with a left oblique strain.
Houston recalled infielder Shay Whitcomb from Triple-A Sugar Land ahead of Wednesday's clash with the Athletics. Whitcomb went hitless in his first seven at-bats.
It is unclear when Rodgers will return to the active roster. Although he's eligible to rejoin the Astros next week, oblique and muscle injuries often require slightly longer recovery periods.
Houston Astros second baseman Brendan RodgersErik Williams-Imagn Images
Astros manager Joe Espada kept Altuve in left field on Wednesday night. The Astros instead started Mauricio Dubón at second base.
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Rodgers hit .191 with two homers, 11 RBI, and a mediocre .544 OPS in his first 43 games. He's on track for his lowest on-base and slugging percentages since becoming a full-time player in 2021.
As for Altuve, he's only posted a .744 OPS and -0.3 bWAR in 297 plate appearances. The nine-time All-Star nonetheless remains a mainstay in the Astros' lineup, and his 11 homers rank second among Astros hitters.
Houston entered Wednesday at 42-31 and five games ahead in the AL West.
Related: MLB Makes Questionable Jose Altuve Announcement Before Astros-Athletics Game
Related: Astros Send Clear Jose Altuve Message After Latest Win
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
