The Astros beat the Rangers on Saturday, but the excitement was short-lived after Altuve left the game with an injury.
In the eighth inning, Altuve grabbed his left side and stopped running out a double-play ball. Players don't just stop running mid-play unless something is seriously wrong. The main concern is a possible oblique injury. Medical imaging is scheduled for Sunday, and he has been left out of Sunday's lineup.
The 36-year-old face of the franchise has already dealt with an oblique injury back in 2023. Losing Altuve would be brutal for this struggling team. They are already down a veteran in Carlos Correa and entered the weekend with 14 players on the injured list. Losing Altuve would be a major blow to the already thinning roster.
An oblique injury is not a quick recovery and can easily sideline a player for weeks. After the Astros won two games in a row, they finally have some momentum, and losing a clutch player is not what they need.
On the bright side, Jeremy Peña and Jake Meyers could both be returning for the upcoming Twins series. They also have Braden Shewmake, who has filled in well at shortstop, hitting .366 with a .976 OPS in 15 games, per MLB.
The Astros are waiting on imaging results, and until there is clarity on Altuve, the entire organization is holding its breath. For a team that has already dealt with more than its fair share of injuries this season, the last thing they need is to lose the face of the franchise.