Report: Altuve day-to-day after MRI on knee that required 2018 surgery

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is considered day-to-day after undergoing an MRI on his right knee Friday, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

Altuve left Thursday's game against the Texas Rangers due to right knee discomfort.

The 30-year-old missed roughly three weeks during the 2018 campaign due to right knee soreness and required offseason surgery to address the injury. He was able to begin the 2019 season on time and bounced back with a strong .298/.353/.550 slash line, adding 31 homers and six steals over 124 games.

Altuve was lifted from Thursday's game at the beginning of the third inning and was replaced by Abraham Toro. Toro became the third baseman while Aledmys Diaz shifted from third to second.

The six-time All-Star is in the midst of a down year, hitting .218/.279/.317, which would all qualify as career lows. In mid-August, Altuve asked manager Dusty Baker to bump him down the lineup. Typically hitting second, Altuve was demoted to seventh.

Despite Altuve's slow start to the season, the Astros are 21-15 - two games back of the division-leading Oakland Athletics - and in a playoff position.