Jose Altuve got absolutely smoked on the foot Tuesday night, taking an 82-mph slider from Giants starter Carson Whisenhunt right on the left foot in the first inning. The Houston Astros second baseman, a two-time World Series champ, stayed in to run the bases and even took the field for the bottom of the first before heading out for good, replaced by Nick Allen in the second. This is a serious scare for the AL West leaders, even if manager Joe Espada says initial imaging for the bruised foot came back negative. They’re still expecting more news Wednesday, but man, you never want to see your 16-year veteran leader limping off.
Oakland’s Reigning Rookie of the Year Faces Season-Ending Blow
Just when you thought the injury bug might skip some of the league’s brightest young stars, Oakland Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz got hit with some brutal news. His right thumb injury could sideline him for the entire season. Manager Mark Kotsay flat out told reporters that Kurtz, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, needs to be in a brace for four weeks after getting a platelet-rich plasma injection on August 4. Four weeks without mobility? Kotsay essentially said it’s tough to see him returning before the end of September. That’s a gut punch.
Kurtz, who’s only 23, already went on the injured list with a sprained right thumb back on July 11, coming back two weeks later. But it clearly wasn’t right, as he went a measly 1 for 18 in seven games after his return. He was supposed to see a hand specialist last week, and now we know why. This guy was an All-Star this season, couldn’t even participate in Philadelphia because of this injury, and is batting .256 with 21 homers and 69 RBIs in his second season. To lose him for the year? That’s just rough.
Blue Jays Pitching Staff Takes Major Hits
The injury reports aren’t getting any better up north, with the Toronto Blue Jays’ pitching staff getting hammered. Right-hander Trey Yesavage is now week to week after undergoing surgery on August 11 to repair the meniscus in his left knee. Manager John Schneider is holding out hope, saying it’s possible Yesavage could pitch again this season. Yesavage, who was the 20th overall pick in the 2024 draft and owns a 5-5 record with a 3.65 ERA in 18 starts, felt the knee pain while warming up for the third inning of his start against the Astros last Tuesday. This is the same guy who set a Blue Jays postseason record last October, striking out 11 batters in 5 1/3 no-hit innings against the Yankees in Game 2 of the ALDS.
And if that wasn’t enough, the Blue Jays also put right-hander Jameson Taillon on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right forearm tendinitis. He was pulled after four shutout innings in their 2-1 win over Boston on Monday. Toronto immediately called up right-hander Chase Lee from Triple-A Buffalo to fill the void. These are tough blows for a team trying to stay competitive, adding even more uncertainty to an already wild season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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