Astros Sit Jose Altuve Against Braves With Right Foot Soreness

Houston Astros star Jose Altuve was sidelined for the Sunday game against the Atlanta Braves due to soreness in his right foot, specifically at the bottom near his toes. Altuve experienced discomfort during Saturday's game, which led to his early removal in the third inning, and he remained sore the following day. Astros manager Joe Espada reported that Altuve was being examined by doctors and planned to test his foot to determine if he could potentially play off the bench. The injury comes as the Astros, tied with the Seattle Mariners for first place in the AL West, prepare for an important homestand. Altuve, a nine-time All-Star hitting .264 with 25 home runs and 70 RBIs, has recently been struggling with a batting slump but showed some early success in the Atlanta series before his injury. Mauricio Dubón started at second base in Altuve's absence for the series finale.