Carlos Correa’s attempt to sprint back from major ankle surgery is over, but the Astros aren’t suddenly left scrambling.
On Tuesday afternoon, Houston manager Joe Espada said Correa would shut it down for the rest of the season and turn his attention to getting healthy for the start of 2027. A few hours later, the Astros kept rolling with a 4-2 win over the Kansas City Royals, protecting their AL West lead in the process.
Correa had been working out at Houston’s spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Florida, and had been aiming for a minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land later this week. The plan was to make an MLB return this season, but nagging soreness changed the equation for the 31-year-old, who decided not to push it.
It closes the book on what was Correa’s first full season back in Houston after the Astros brought him back at the 2025 trade deadline. It also removes the possibility of a late-season jolt from a three-time All-Star. But the bigger picture for Houston hasn’t changed much: this team has already shown it can survive without him.
Correa last played on May 4, when Houston was 14-22 and sitting fourth in the AL West. Since then, the Astros have gone 62-53 and held onto a shaky grip on first place. That run has been built by the rest of the roster, especially the infielders who have taken on Correa’s innings and production.
The left side of the infield has stayed productive even with Correa out. Jeremy Peña has dealt with injuries himself, but he’s sitting on the doorstep of his second 20-homer season with 19. His bat has cooled since July, yet he still gives Houston a dangerous presence near the top of the lineup.
Isaac Paredes has also kept the offense moving, and then some. The All-Star third baseman is having a strong season overall with 21 home runs, 85 RBI and a .258/.357/.432 slash line, but he’s been especially sharp down the stretch. In September, he’s posted a .966 OPS with four homers and 12 RBI in 13 games.
Nick Allen has quietly delivered one of the best seasons of his five-year career, too. The utility infielder has been limited to 87 games because of back and hamstring issues, but he has set career highs in average (.279), on-base percentage (.327) and slugging percentage (.382). He’s also added flexibility in the field, and this month he’s hitting .400 with a home run in six plate appearances.
If Houston needs more cover in the infield, there are more names available. Brice Matthews is three games into a rehab assignment as he works back from a left knee sprain.
Cavan Biggio has had a strong season at Triple-A Sugar Land and brings big-league experience. And Cam Smith, if needed, has third-base experience from his college days at Florida State.
So no, Correa isn’t riding in to save the day. The Astros will keep leaning on the group that has already gotten them this far. And so far, they’ve done exactly that.
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Still, the MVP conversation is not always following the numbers in a straight line. Junior Caminero has been getting attention for another big power season with Tampa Bay, but the broader case gets murkier once his defensive profile enters the picture, especially when weighed against Alvarezs all-around offensive edge. Former MLB GM Jim Bowden has even argued Caminero should be the AL MVP, a stance Astros fans are unlikely to love, and one that keeps Alvarezs standing in the race from feeling as secure as his production suggests. [Read more 🡒]