José Altuve exited the game with a possible injury on Sunday. He notched two hits in the ballgame.
What happened?
Altuve had two hits off Montero, bringing his season total to .240/.313/.395 with eight homers and 21 RBI.
Why it matters for José Altuve
Astros' skipper Joe Espada confirmed there's nothing physically wrong with Altuve, he just needed a breather. Altuve is 5-for-26 with two homers in eight games since coming off the injured list.
What comes next?
Brice Matthews will start in his place at second base and will bat seventh against Stephen Kolek and the Royals on Sunday afternoon in Kansas City. Altuve's strikeout rate sits at 22 percent for the year.
Altuve made it back to Houston's lineup less than three weeks after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain. He figures to hit behind a red-hot Isaac Paredes in the middle of the Astros lineup for now.
The 36-year-old second baseman has slashed .245/.326/.380 with four homers, 12 RBI and just one stolen base through his first 185 plate appearances. He's starting at second base and batting fifth for the Astros.
Altuve told reporters he'll get another round facing live pitching before determining his next steps. He's made a rapid recovery from an oblique strain that shelved him back in mid-May.
Additional clarity on his status should arrive later this week. The Astros are easing him back into full-time action after his return from the injured list on Friday.
Nick Allen will start in his place at second base and will bat ninth for the Astros against A's left-hander Gage Jump on Sunday afternoon in Houston. Altuve's .238 average through 50 games is a full 65 points lower than his career mark of .303.
The Astros are being cautious with Altuve after his injury. He's 2-for-18 with 10 strikeouts since coming off the injured list.
Altuve joined Christian Walker, Brice Matthews and Jake Meyers in homering for Houston. His strikeout rate is higher than his career average.
The Astros will monitor Altuve's progress closely. He's a key player in their lineup and they need him to perform well to win games.
Altuve's injury is a concern for the Astros. They need him to be healthy and playing well to compete with other teams in the league.
The Astros are hoping Altuve can return to his normal form soon. He's a talented player and they need him to perform well to win games.
Altuve's status will be updated later this week. The Astros are being cautious with him and want to make sure he's fully recovered before putting him back in the lineup.