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Albert Pujols to Interview for Astros' Managerial Job
Future Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols will interview for the Houston Astros' managerial vacancy on Thursday, sources told Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. The Astros named former St. Louis Cardinals executive Randy Flores as their new general manager five days ago. Flores spent eight years in the big leagues before joining St. Louis' front office, with five of those years spent as Pujols' teammate in St. Louis, including a World Series championship in 2006. Pujols has made it clear that he has a desire to manage in the big leagues, and he won a championship in the Dominican winter league in his first season leading the Leones del Escogido in January of 2025 while also serving as the skipper for the Dominican Republic in this year's World Baseball Classic, where his squad lost to the United States in the semifinals. Pujols was a finalist for the managerial openings in the last hiring cycle with the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres. New York Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus is also among those being considered by the Astros for their managerial position.
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Mike Rizzo Interviewing For Astros General Manager Job
Former Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo is interviewing for the vacant Houston Astros general manager role, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. As general manager of the Nationals, Rizzo built up the franchise and led Washington to its first-ever World Series title in 2019, defeating the Houston Astros. Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez were fired in 2025, ending Rizzo's 19-year tenure with the franchise. Rizzo was considered for the Athletics job in a similar role this offseason, but withdrew his name from consideration to focus on the Astros position, according to Nightengale.
Source: Bob Nightengale, USA Today
Source: Bob Nightengale, USA Today
Joe Espada Will Not Return as Astros Manager in 2027
The Houston Astros announced on Wednesday that Joe Espada will not return as the team's manager in 2027. Espada took over in Houston in 2024 and led the Astros to a 256-229 record across his three years at the helm. The Astros won two American League West division crowns under Espada, but failed to win a single postseason game. Houston has also gotten progressively worse over the last three seasons, winning 88 games in 2024, 87 games in 2025, and 81 games this past season. Espada has already met with the Seattle Mariners about their managerial vacancy, so he could remain in the AL West.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Jose Altuve Returns From Foot Injury on Friday
Houston Astros second baseman/outfielder Jose Altuve (foot) is starting at second base and batting fifth on Friday for the series opener at Daikin Park against the division-rival Seattle Mariners and right-hander George Kirby, per MLB.com. Altuve fouled a ball off his left foot on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants and was held out of the series finale on Wednesday as a result. Tests came back negative, though, and Altuve is back in action on Friday after a scheduled day off on Thursday. The 36-year-old Venezuelan veteran and nine-time All-Star will return to face a pitcher that he is pretty familiar with. Altuve has faced Kirby 24 times in his career and is hitting .208 against him with a .488 OPS and just one RBI. Fantasy managers are hoping he can continue his strong month of August in which he has gone 11-for-34 (.324) with an .841 OPS, a homer, a double, five RBI, and five runs scored in only 10 games played. Overall, the former MVP has shown his age in 2026, slashing a mediocre .240/.304/.391 with 13 homers, 35 RBI, 54 runs, and only two steals in 96 total games played in his 16th year in the majors.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jose Altuve Sidelined With Foot Injury in Series Finale Against Giants
Houston Astros second baseman/outfielder Jose Altuve (foot) is not in the team's starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the hosting San Francisco Giants, according to MLB.com. Altuve is undergoing more tests after tests came back negative for a fracture when he was pulled from Tuesday's game early after being hit by a pitch on the left foot. Nick Allen is making the start at the keystone on Wednesday and will bat eighth against Giants right-hander Adrian Houser. Altuve was initially diagnosed with a left-foot contusion and will be considered day-to-day for now. Hopefully, Altuve will be ready to rock for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Seattle Mariners on Friday after a scheduled day off on Thursday. Altuve is nowhere near the power/speed threat at the second base position that he used to be, as he comes into Wednesday's action with a mediocre .240/.304/.391 slash line, .695 OPS, 13 home runs, 35 RBI, 54 runs scored, and two steals in 96 games in 2026. So far in 10 games in August, though, he's gone 11-for-34 (.324) with a homer, a double, five RBI, and five runs scored.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jose Altuve to Get More Imaging on his Foot on Wednesday
Houston Astros second baseman/outfielder Jose Altuve (foot) had imaging on his foot, which came back negative, manager Joe Espada told Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Altuve will go for more imaging on Wednesday after being removed from the game following a hit-by-pitch on his left foot against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. The 36-year-old veteran, former MVP, and nine-time All-Star was diagnosed with just a contusion, which gives fantasy managers hope that he won't need a stint on the injured list. Check back soon to see if he's available to play in Wednesday's series finale in the Bay Area against the Giants and right-hander Adrian Houser. Altuve is no longer in his prime in his 16th year in the majors, but he's still rostered in 80% of Yahoo leagues and has a .240/.304/.391 slash line with a .695 OPS, 13 home runs, 35 RBI, 54 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 96 games and 409 plate appearances. He's off to a good start in 10 games in August, going 11-for-34 (.324) with a homer, a double, five RBI, and five runs scored.
Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
Jose Altuve's July Power Spike Opens a Sell Window
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve reached the break at .235/.307/.404 with 11 home runs, 45 runs, 27 RBI, and two steals in 74 games. He did give fantasy managers something to sell. Altuve homered three times in 44 July plate appearances, including the first-half finale, after missing 17 games with a left oblique strain. The bigger picture has not changed much. His 85.8 mph average exit velocity is among the weakest marks of his career, and Statcast sits at a .228 expected average with a .342 expected slugging percentage. Altuve is also striking out at a career-high 22.1% clip. Jeremy Peña returned July 10 and immediately reclaimed the leadoff spot, pushing Altuve to fifth for the final three games. The name still matters, and so does the recent power. This is a good time to see what both can fetch.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Astros Recall Shay Whitcomb to MLB Roster, Worth Adding in Deeper Leagues?
The Houston Astros are recalling infielder Shay Whitcomb from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday and placing infielder Nick Allen (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring injury in a corresponding move, a source told Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Whitcomb, 27, has yet to play in more than 20 games at the major-league level since debuting with the Astros in 2024. Over his 54 games played in the big leagues, he's hitting just .167/.219/.267 with a .485 OPS, two home runs, 10 RBI, six runs scored, six walks, and 27 strikeouts across 96 plate appearances. Fantasy managers can probably continue to avoid the former fifth-rounder in 2020 out of the University of California, San Diego. He profiles as primarily a super-utility man at the major-league level who most likely will struggle to find consistent playing time yet again.
Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
Astros Reinstate Jose Altuve From the Injured List
The Houston Astros reinstated second baseman Jose Altuve (oblique) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned infielder Zach Dezenzo to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Altuve is right back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Athletics and right-hander Jack Perkins, starting at the keystone and batting fifth at Daikin Park. The 36-year-old former MVP and nine-time All-Star is returning from a Grade 2 strained left oblique that kept him out since May 16. The Venezuelan veteran did not require a minor-league rehab stint, which means he could be a bit rusty at the plate upon his return this weekend. Altive has finally felt the effects of Father Time in 2026, as he enters Friday's action with a .245/.326/.380 slash line, .706 OPS, four home runs, 12 RBI, 27 runs, and one stolen base across 42 games and 185 plate appearances. There's still time for Altuve to turn things around now that he's back to full health, and he's rostered in 85% of Yahoo leagues despite his slow start and oblique injury.
Source: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
Source: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
Jose Altuve Expected to Take Live Batting Practice Soon
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (oblique) is expected to take live batting practice in the next day or two, manager Joe Espada told Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Once Altuve begins facing live pitching, he could return from the 10-day injured list rather quickly, as the 36-year-old Venezuelan veteran isn't expected to require a minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining the team. The former MVP and nine-time All-Star has been sidelined for three weeks with an oblique strain, but when he's cleared to return, he will be back as Houston's primary second baseman. The three-time batting champion has shown signs of decline so far in 2026 before his injury, slashing a very modest .245/.326/.380 with a .706 OPS, only four home runs, 12 RBI, 27 runs scored, and one stolen base across 163 at-bats for the 'Stros. Even so, Altuve deserves to be rostered in nearly all fantasy leagues. He's available in just 15% of Yahoo leagues despite missing nearly a month at this point with his oblique ailment. UPDATE: Altuve is scheduled to take live BP on Wednesday, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
Source: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
Source: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
Jose Altuve May Not Need a Rehab Assignment
Jose Altuve (oblique) is trending toward avoiding a rehab assignment altogether. Manager Joe Espada has stated that the 36-year-old is healing at an incredible pace and that his on-field preparation may come through simulated at-bats rather than a minor-league rehab assignment. With his recovery progressing in that direction, a return could come sooner than originally anticipated. There is still no official timetable for his return, but Altuve was swinging at nearly 80 percent effort earlier in the week and continues to field ground balls and run the bases as part of his recovery process. The biggest test will be when he faces live pitching over the next couple of days. Assuming that goes well with no setbacks, fantasy managers should be ready for an activation at some point during the first half of May.
Source: Chandler Rome
Source: Chandler Rome
Jose Altuve Healing at "Incredible Pace," May Avoid Rehab Assignment
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada intimated that the team is exploring the possibility of simulating some at-bats in West Palm Beach, Florida, in lieu of a minor-league rehab assignment for second baseman Jose Altuve (oblique), who is healing at an "incredible" pace, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Altuve ran the bases, took ground balls, and is swinging at 75-80% effort as he continues to recover from a Grade 2 left-oblique strain. It's still unclear when the 36-year-old veteran might be ready to come off the 10-day injured list, but it's obviously good news, and Altuve could rejoin the Astros' lineup by mid-June. Until Altuve returns to the big-league roster, Brice Matthews and Braden Shewmake figure to continue splitting time at the keystone in Houston. Altuve, a former MVP and nine-time All-Star, is starting to show signs of decline in 2025 in his 16th year in the league, as he was hitting just .245/.326/.380 with a .706 OPS, four home runs, 12 RBI, 27 runs scored, and a single stolen base in 42 games across 185 plate appearances before his oblique strain.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Jose Altuve Expected to Resume Swinging Soon, Astros Await Offensive Boost
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (oblique) is expected to resume swinging a bat within the next few days as he continues recovering from a left oblique injury. Altuve exited the May 16 game after experiencing discomfort in his side and has since traveled to Florida to continue his rehab process. Before landing on the injured list, the veteran infielder was slashing .245/.326/.380 with a .706 OPS after cooling off from a strong start to the season. The career .302 hitter remains one of baseball's most reliable contact bats, and his return would provide a major boost for a Houston lineup searching for more offensive consistency.
Source: Matt Kawahara
Source: Matt Kawahara
Jose Altuve Feeling Better, Heading to Florida to Continue Rehab
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (oblique) is feeling better after suffering a Grade 2 left oblique strain one week ago. He was seen walking around the clubhouse on Saturday and said that, while he can do some light workouts, he has yet to resume baseball activities. The 36-year-old will travel to West Palm Beach on Sunday to continue his rehab, where he will hopefully make additional progress soon. The veteran has struggled to start the season, hitting just four home runs and stealing only one base through his first 42 games played. Upon his return, he should immediately slot back into the starting role at second base. In the meantime, both Braden Shewmake and Brice Matthews will continue to split time, with neither showing enough consistency to run away with the job.
Source: Brian McTaggart
Source: Brian McTaggart
Astros Put Jose Altuve on Injured List With Oblique Strain
The Houston Astros placed second baseman Jose Altuve (oblique) on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a left-oblique strain, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. In a corresponding move, shortstop Jeremy Pena (hamstring, neck) was reinstated from the 10-day IL. Altuve suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain while swinging on Saturday against the division-rival Texas Rangers and could miss anywhere from four to six weeks, so fantasy managers definitely shouldn't expect a quick recovery for the veteran second baseman. Braden Shewmake made the start at the keystone for the Astros in Monday's series opener in Minnesota against the Twins, but Brice Matthews could also see more playing time at second until Altuve is fully healed. Despite a mediocre start to his 2026 season, Altuve should be held in all fantasy baseball formats. The former MVP, nine-time All-Star, and seven-time Silver Slugger winner heads to the IL with a .245/.326/.380 slash line, .706 OPS, only four home runs, 12 RBI, 27 runs scored, and a steal in his 163 at-bats.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
