Astros hit again by injuries as Jose Altuve heads to the IL with a grade 2 oblique strain

HOUSTON (AP) — Second baseman Jose Altuve will be placed on the injured list with a grade 2 left oblique strain, the latest blow to a Houston Astros team that has been ravaged by injuries.

Manager Joe Espada announced the injury following Sunday's 8-0 loss to the Texas Rangers that dropped the Astros to 19-29 this season. He didn't provide a timeline for how long they expect Altuve to be out.

“Obviously just not what we wanted to hear,” Espada said. “But we find ourselves having to fight through this one here. So these young players are going to continue to get opportunities.”

Altuve was injured in the ninth inning of Saturday night's 4-1 win over the Rangers after taking an awkward swing.

He was not made available to reporters after Sunday's game.

Not counting Altuve, the Astros have 14 players on the injured list. But shortstop Jeremy Peña is expected to be reinstated Monday after sitting out since April 11 with a strained hamstring.

Rookie Brice Matthews started at second base on Sunday and went 1 for 4.

Altuve led off Saturday’s game with his fourth home run of the season. The nine-time All-Star is batting .245 with 12 RBIs this season.

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Houston Astros' Jose Altuve runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve throws to first to out Seattle Mariners' J.P. Crawford during the third inning of a baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

HOUSTON (AP) — Texas Rangers All-Star shortstop Corey Seager was out of the lineup for a second straight game Sunday against the Houston Astros because of back spasms.

Manager Skip Schumaker said Seager had an MRI on Sunday morning to make sure it's only back spasms that are causing the problem. He said after the Rangers' 8-0 win that the results of the MRI weren't yet available, but that Seager wouldn't go with the team to Denver and would travel to Arlington to undergo further testing.

Schumaker said before the game that Seager had improved Sunday but still wasn't feeling good enough to play.

“He was in here before I got here,” Schumaker said. “I got here early and he was here before me trying to get in the lineup.”

The 32-year-old Seager is in a career-worst 0-for-27 slump. He didn't play Friday night in a 2-0 loss to the Astros, but Schumaker said it was a scheduled off day and Saturday morning was the first time he had experienced any back issues.

Seager is batting .179 with seven homers and 19 RBIs in 42 games this season.

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Texas Rangers' Corey Seager follows through on a ground out to second in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, May 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers' Corey Seager (5) and Joc Pederson, right, celebrate Pederson's solo home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)