ASTROS OUTLOOK
Let's discuss 4 Houston Astros that must step up in Jose Altuve's absence
Apr 22, 2022, 12:03 pm
The Astros may have to lean on Jeremy Pena even more. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images.
After legging out an infield single In Monday night’s game against the Angels, Astros’ second baseman Jose Altuve strained his left hamstring and was forced to leave in the 8th inning.
The 7x All-Star was retroactively placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday as a result.
"We didn't think he'd be ready to go in a week, and it's a 10-day IL, and we'll reevaluate it from there," Astros manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday
Altuve was off to a slow start (6-36) to begin the season, and spending some time off the field could be good for him in the long run.
Temporarily replacing one of the best players in baseball is no easy feat, but can be possible if certain players step up.
From utility player to starter
Aledmys Diaz is the obvious choice to replace Altuve at second base for now. He entered the game for the 31-year-old Monday night and has played well throughout his Astros career.
Diaz has been a reliable defensive asset to this team, with the ability to play at all four infield positions and the outfield as well.
Although he is only hitting .154 to start off 2022, Diaz has proven to be a dependable bat in Baker’s lineup once he gets going.
Pena shows power and potential
One of the best players for the Astros this season has been the rookie phenom Jeremy Pena. Through his first 11 games, Houston’s new shortstop is hitting .308/.364/.590. and only Chas McCormick has a higher batting average.
Over the last two games, Pena has been given the opportunity to leadoff, and he seems to fit in well.
At this point, it may be a lot to ask of a rookie, but the 24-year-old seems to be up to the challenge, as his performance at the plate would indicate.
Pena showcased he has some pop in his bat as well, and is behind only Yordan Alvarez for the team lead in homers.
The rookie is hitting in a good spot with Michael Brantley, Alex Bregman and Alvarez backing him up in the lineup and could be dangerous to any opposing pitching staff.
If Pena can continue to put up good numbers at the leadoff spot, the Astros won’t have to worry about losing production at the top of their lineup while Altuve is out.
Goodrum gets the green light.
At first glance, Niko Goodrum may seem like an odd choice to put here, but he is a vital part of this Astros roster.
Diaz could play second base for the majority of the time during Altuve’s absence, thus moving Goodrun into the utility role.
The 30-year-old has already played at first base, second base and designated hitter this season, and spent time at shortstop and in the outfield last year for the Detroit Tigers.
Baker said that both Goodrum and Diaz would split time at second base, but it can be presumed Diaz will get more starts as he is more reliable at the plate.
Goodrum can be an above average defender, and will provide much needed depth for the Astros during this time.
JJ the wildcard
One bonus player who could make an impact is the recently promoted infielder/outfielder JJ Matijevic.
The 26-year-old was called up on Wednesday in response to Altuve heading to the 10-day IL.
He hit .310 with four homers and 10 RBIs for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys this season.
Matijevic could get an opportunity to give some guys days off and add a little bit more depth to this already stacked Astros lineup.
Altuve could return as soon as Friday, April 29th in Toronto. Until then, these players and others could give the Astros a boost during the All-Star second basemen’s absence.
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Coming off a dominant offensive performance, the Houston Astros return to the field Wednesday night looking to keep their momentum rolling against the Athletics. Cam Smith’s four-hit breakout powered a 13-3 rout on Tuesday, and now the Astros aim to take control of the series in Game 3 of the four-game set.
Houston, sitting atop the AL West at 42-31, will send left-hander Framber Valdez to the mound. Valdez has been in strong form all season, posting a 7-4 record with a 3.10 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 2025. He’ll be looking to build on Houston’s recent pitching success. The Astros have held opponents to a 2.60 ERA over their last 10 games while going 7-3 in that span and outscoring opponents by 24 runs.
The A’s will counter with veteran right-hander Luis Severino, who enters with a 2-6 record and a 4.47 ERA. While his season has been inconsistent, Severino still has the ability to miss bats and will look to keep an Astros lineup in check that’s hitting .271 over its last 10 contests.
The Athletics come in at 30-45 overall and 13-24 at home, and though they've dropped three of four to the Astros this season, the power potential is always there. The A’s have launched 92 home runs so far — seventh-most in the majors — with Tyler Soderstrom and Max Muncy continuing to anchor the offense. Soderstrom has already racked up 14 homers and 45 RBIs on the year, while Muncy has gone deep three times over his last 10 games.
Houston’s offense has been steadily rising, fueled by key performances from both veterans and emerging talent. Jeremy Peña continues to provide steady production with 15 doubles and nine homers on the year, while rookie Cam Smith has caught fire, going 14-for-40 with four doubles and two homers in his last 10 games.
The Astros are 33-13 this season when they out-hit their opponent, and they’ll look to follow that blueprint again Wednesday. First pitch is set for 10:05 p.m. EDT in West Sacramento, with Houston holding a 3-1 edge in the season series.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -162, Athletics +136; over/under is 9 runs
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