Struggling Altuve asks for demotion in Astros lineup

The 2020 Major League Baseball season has not gone according to plan for the Houston Astros or second baseman Jose Altuve. The six-time All-Star asked manager Dusty Baker to drop him in Saturday's batting order due to his prolonged struggles at the plate.

"I’m not helping the club right now at the top of the lineup," Altuve told Baker, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. "I appreciate the respect you’re giving me (but) the guys ahead of me are swinging the bat better, playing better."

Baker was going to slot Altuve in the three spot but moved him down to seventh after his request. He went 1-for-3 with an RBI in the team's 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners.

Still, Altuve has not done well through 19 games. He's hitting .181/.253/.313 with three home runs and a pair of stolen bases, as the Astros scuffle to a 10-10 record.

His manager appreciated Altuve taking ownership of his rough stretch.

"I’ve been in thousands of lineups and had thousands of lineups that I made out," Baker said. "Guys don’t usually say ‘Put me down in the order.’ That’s a pride thing, especially if you’ve been hitting first, second, or third most of your life. That was big for him to tell me that."

The 10-year veteran has led the Junior Circuit in hits on four occasions and won the 2017 AL MVP over New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. He is under contract with the Astros through the 2024 season.

Altuve was one of the key figures at the center of the Astros' sign-stealing scandal during the offseason, with allegations that he wore an electronic buzzer under his uniform to signal when certain pitches were coming. He denied the charge, and MLB found no evidence to substantiate the claims.