Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros have started the season with a decent record. After winning their Opening Day series against the Angels, they have taken on the Diamondbacks and the Mariners before returning to familiar foes again. The Astros have kept their hopes alive with a winning record, and they will want to keep the momentum going. But things might have gotten a just a tad bit tougher. Lead-off hitter Jose Altuve saw an injury scare in their game against the LA Angels, and the results are still to come.

Jose Altuve was a key part of the Houston Astros 2017 World Series win and is a vital piece in the Astros puzzle. Especially offensively, taking on the role of lead-off hitter, the star has seen new responsibility after Carlos Correa’s switch to the Minnesota Twins. And with an injury scare like on Monday, they only stoked those fears. After making contact on a base hit, Altuve went down in right field nursing what looked to be a hamstring strain.

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Jose Altuve taken out of the game due to an injury

Altuve suffered what he suspected to be a hamstring strain as he scampered to 1st base after securing his first hit of the game. Already leading 8-3 in the match, the Astros were comfortably ahead in the game. So while the injury had no tangible effect on the result, it could grow into a problem. The series is incomplete, and an Altuve exit could have several ramifications.

However, it appears to be that there isn’t too much reason to fear for the Astros. Even though taken off the diamond initially, Altuve seems to believe that the injury is not significant enough to keep him out of the game for too long. Speaking after the match, he even reassured reporters of the same. Said Altuve, “Actually feeling better now than what I was suspecting but we’ll see tomorrow.”

A possible return?

Asked how he felt immediately after the injury, Altuve appeared disappointed as he spoke to reporters. “You never want to get hurt playing,” he added, “personally I never want to come out of the game but it is what it is.“

He added that he would be undergoing further scans before deciding anything further. Said Altuve, “I think I stopped a little bit when I felt it and that helped a little bit.”

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But what do you think? Is this a loss for the Houston Astros? Could this derail their bid in the short term? How crucial do you think Altuve’s hitting is to their lineup?