Astros place Altuve on IL with right knee sprain

The Houston Astros lost another star to injury Saturday when second baseman Jose Altuve was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right knee sprain, the team announced.

Altuve's IL stint is retroactive to Friday.

The 30-year-old, who needed surgery on his right knee two years ago, suffered the current injury while sliding into third base early in Thursday's game. He underwent an MRI the next day to determine the extent of the issue.

Manager Dusty Baker is optimistic that Altuve can return to action soon, and perhaps next week.

"He felt a little better, but you know, can we afford to play (a man) short for possibly another week?" Baker told reporters, according to KHOU's Matt Musil. "And so we're hoping that he's ready to come back before next Sunday, or a couple days before that, so he can get some swings in and some running in, and feel 100% not only physically but psychologically."

The knee injury interrupts what's been the worst season of Altuve's otherwise stellar career. The 2017 AL MVP owns a mediocre .224/.284/.322 slash line with three homers, 12 RBIs, and two steals through 35 games in 2020.

Altuve is the latest Astros star to be sidelined this season. He joins fellow sluggers Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez on the IL, along with reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander and closer Roberto Osuna.

The Astros also reinstated right-handers Jose Urquidy and Brad Peacock from the IL Saturday. Left-hander Cionel Perez was optioned to the taxi squad, and injured right-hander Rogelio Armenteros was transferred to the 45-day IL. Right-hander Humberto Castellanos was added to the active roster as the 29th man for Saturday's doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels.