Altuve day to day with left leg contusion
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Astros second baseman Jose Altuve left Tuesday’s exhibition game against the Royals in Kansas City in the fourth inning with a left leg contusion. He’s day to day, manager Dusty Baker said following a 15-6 win for the Astros.
“We’re hopeful he’ll be ready on Friday,” Baker said. “We’ll analyze him tomorrow and see where he is in the morning. Usually the day after that, you’re pretty sore.”
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Altuve, who overcome an early left hamstring injury last year to hit .298 with 31 homers and 74 RBIs with a big second half, suffered the injury when he scored from third on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Yuli Gurriel. The throw from Royals right fielder Brett Phillips reached home plate just ahead of Altuve, but catcher Meibrys Viloria dropped the ball as he tried to make a tag. Altuve didn’t slide, but he was clearly in pain after falling to the ground after crossing the plate.
“He said he should have slid, number 1,” Baker said. “Somebody should have directed him, you know, to slide, too. We’ll address the situation. This is training camp, and after you play a bit, then these things are second nature. I’m hoping he’s OK. He’ll be fine.”
The Astros have two days to get Altuve ready in time for Friday’s regular-season opener against the Mariners at Minute Maid Park. After undergoing major right knee surgery following the 2018 season, Altuve went on the injured list last May with a strained left hamstring, and he later suffered right leg weakness.
In the second half of the season, Altuve led the American League in hits (93) and total bases (178) and tied for third in home runs (21). In 69 games after the All-Star break, he hit .325 with 16 doubles, three triples and a .995 OPS. On Tuesday, he recorded an RBI and two singles.