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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After dropping a frustrating series to the Chicago White Sox, the Houston Astros find themselves in a familiar position—searching for answers, but still within striking distance. Despite their inconsistency, Houston sits just three games behind the AL West-leading Mariners, who are currently 7 games over .500 and riding an 8-2 stretch. For as up-and-down as the Astros have been, the division remains tantalizingly close.
That inconsistency was on full display throughout the White Sox series. Jake Meyers and Zach Dezenzo each played the roles of both hero and heartbreaker. Dezenzo launched a massive home run in Game 3, a moment that energized the dugout and briefly shifted momentum. But his costly defensive error later in the game flipped the script. Meyers was a spark plug in Houston’s lone win, delivering a clutch performance at the plate, only to run the team out of a rally in the finale when he was picked off second—right before Jeremy Peña ripped what would have been an RBI single.
Jose Altuve’s struggles are quietly becoming more worrisome. He’s recorded just one multi-hit game since April 19 and has only one homer since April 8. On Sunday, he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had grinded through a 33-pitch inning—a decision that raised questions about his awareness in a veteran moment. Should manager Joe Espada have reminded Altuve of the situation? Or is this on Altuve, who should have known what to do as one of the team leaders?
Signs of life
There are flickers of life from the bats. Last week, Houston's team OPS was an underwhelming .667 (23rd in MLB), with a slugging percentage of .357 (25th). They've nudged those numbers up to .684 (19th) and .370 (21st), respectively. It’s modest progress, but enough to suggest this offense might be trending in the right direction. Still, their 5-5 record over the last 10 games feels emblematic of who they are right now—a .500 team with both talent and flaws.
Looking ahead
The upcoming schedule could be a turning point. Three of the next five opponents have losing records, and none of them are elite. This stretch offers a prime opportunity for Houston to finally build momentum and close the gap in the division—assuming the Mariners cool off from their current tear, which seems inevitable given their unsustainable 8-2 pace.
McCullers is officially back!
Lance McCullers returned for the first time since 2022 and, despite being limited to 3.2 innings due to command issues (three walks and a hit batter), there were encouraging signs. His velocity was there, and the stuff looked sharp. It’s a start, and perhaps a step toward stabilizing a rotation that still needs length.
Steering the ship
Manager Joe Espada, however, continues to draw scrutiny. His decision-making in the finale raised eyebrows again. Giving Isaac Paredes a day off when Yordan Alvarez was already sitting left the lineup depleted. Rather than using promising young infielder/outfielder Cam Smith, he opted for Mauricio Dubón and Brendan Rodgers—a defensive combo that didn't inspire confidence. It feels at times like Espada isn’t prioritizing winning the final game of a series, a pattern that could haunt the team down the stretch.
The plot thickens
Meanwhile, Christian Walker’s slump is dragging on. He went 0-for-5 twice in the last two series and looks out of sync at the plate. The Astros need more from their power hitters if they hope to make a real run. And with Alvarez now heading to the IL with hand inflammation, runs will be even harder to come by.
All told, this team still feels like one hovering just above or below .500. But in a division that remains wide open, the path forward is clear: play better, hope the Mariners come back to earth, and capitalize on a soft schedule. The race is far from over—but it’s time for Houston to start acting like contenders.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
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