The Astros had a rough enough Thursday night just trying to keep pace in the AL West. Then they lost two of their biggest names from the lineup.
Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve both exited the game against the Los Angeles Angels, a move that immediately had Houston fans on alert. But the latest word points more toward caution than catastrophe, with the team apparently managing situations that didn’t look like fresh major injuries.
Altuve had already been dealing with a left foot contusion after being hit by a pitch in a game against the Giants. He stayed in that one at first, then eventually came out when the discomfort got worse.
Alvarez’s departure was just as noticeable, if not more so given how central he’s been to Houston’s offense. He entered Thursday hitting .317, according to the available game information.
The Astros didn’t have much margin for error even before the injuries started piling up. They were already thin on the bench, and the lineup felt even more stretched once both stars were out.
Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve are out of the game. If the Astros had any other available bench players, Isaac Paredes probably would be, too.
- Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) August 21, 2026
That’s the part Houston will be watching closely now. The Astros are barely holding on in the AL West, so every game matters more as the regular season winds down.
They’ve already had to absorb plenty of injury issues this year, which is why even a precautionary exit for either veteran gets attention fast. For the moment, though, there’s no immediate indication that Alvarez or Altuve is dealing with a major new setback.
So while Thursday’s exits were enough to rattle the mood, the bigger question is simple: do either of them miss any more time this weekend?
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