If the Houston Astros are to continue their solid play, they might have to do so without star Jose Altuve for a bit.
With the All-Star second baseman hampered by a hamstring issue, the Astros look for a fourth consecutive victory Saturday night against the visiting Texas Rangers.
Altuve is day-to-day after experiencing left hamstring discomfort while beating out an infield single Friday in the first inning of Houston's 3-0 win over Texas. Though he is batting .162 over his past 20 games, losing the former American League MVP could be costly for the AL West leaders.
"He's being evaluated, he's been evaluated, it doesn't seem serious," manager A.J. Hinch said. "Won't know the extent of the injury until (Saturday)."
Houston has won six of seven after an impressive overall effort Friday. Jake Marisnick homered in the third inning, and Yuli Gurriel and Robinson Chirinos clubbed back-to-back home runs in the seventh. The Astros didn't need much offense with Justin Verlander and two relievers combining to allow two hits.
Gurriel is 11-for-27 (.407) with two home runs during a seven-game hitting streak.
The Astros will hand the ball Saturday to Gerrit Cole (3-4, 4.17 ERA), who has been relatively solid following his worst start of 2019 -- against the Rangers on April 20. Cole allowed nine runs (eight earned) over 4 1/3 innings of Houston's 9-4 defeat at Texas. With that result, the right-hander fell to 0-2 with a 9.58 ERA against the Rangers in 2019.
However, he is 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA while striking out 30 and walking six since being roughed up by Texas. Cole yielded a pair of two-run homers and struck out nine without a walk over 6 1/3 innings of Monday's 6-4 home win over Kansas City.
"Any time you can give your team a chance to win, and ultimately win, it's a good night," Cole told the Astros' official website.
Former Astro Hunter Pence's string of a home run in three consecutive games for Texas was halted with an 0-for-3 night on Friday. Pence, though, is 5-for-16 (.313) lifetime against Cole.
Texas, which has dropped the first two of the series after taking four of the first six against the Astros this season, all at home, will start reliever Jesse Chavez (0-1, 7.27 ERA) for one inning on Saturday. Chavez will then give way to Drew Smyly, who ideally would have to face Houston's top hitters only twice in the game.
Chavez, a right-hander, has appeared in 16 games in 2019, but last started on July 30, 2017, for the Los Angeles Angels.
Smyly, meanwhile, is 0-2 with a 6.63 ERA in five starts this season. Two of those came against Houston, in which he combined to go 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA.
The left-hander gave up a solo homer and one other hit in four innings of a 10-2 win over Toronto on Sunday in his first outing after missing 15 days with tightness in his throwing arm.
"I was able to rest my body and build up strength in my arm," Smyly told the Rangers' official website. "Hopefully, that will carry me through the rest of the season.
Houston's George Springer is 4-for-9 with two doubles and two homers against Smyly in his career.
--Field Level Media