Earlier in July, Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was placed on the 10-day injured list. Altuve injured his left oblique during batting practice and missed two straight games before getting placed on the IL.
The 33-year-old star has played only 32 games this season, as he missed the start of the season due to a thumb injury that he sustained in the World Baseball Classic. His absence has hurt the Astros, and they would love to have him back playing soon.
In this article, we will discuss the timeline of Altuve's return from injury and its impact on the fantasy managers that have him on their teams.
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When will Jose Altuve return from injury?
When Altuve was placed on the IL, it was estimated that he would be available soon after the All-Star break. However, the Houston Astros are in no rush to bring back their star, and as per general manager Dana Brown, Altuve won't be activated from the 10-day IL on July 14.
Instead, the second baseman is expected to begin his rehab assignment with a minor league affiliate next week. If everything goes well, the two-time World Series winner will be back in the lineup before the end of the month.
This news is certainly positive for all the fantasy managers, and they will hope that Altuve comes back firing. So far this season, in 32 games, he is batting .264 with 32 hits, six home runs, and 18 RBIs. He has an on-base percentage of .371 with a .850 OPS.
The Astros have struggled with injuries this season
The Houston Astros are the defending champions, but their aim of winning back-to-back titles has been hampered by injuries. They have already missed Altuve and Yordan Alvarez for many games this season while starting pitchers Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. are out for the season.
Altuve, along with Alvarez and Jose Urquidy, is expected to return by the end of July, and it will be interesting to see how the Astros perform for the remainder of the season. At the All-Star Break, they were 50-41 and two games behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West.
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