Jose Altuve is Starting His Rehab Assignment and Could Return by the End of the Astros' Homestand

Astros fans were running amok after George Springer suffered a hamstring injury during Friday's clash, as it would have left the team without two of its star players, considering Jose Altuve is on the IL.

Well, the 'Stros revealed positive updates on both players' injuries, and it looks like Altuve will be back in the big leagues before long!

Houston's star second baseman will begin a rehab assignment Sunday at Triple-A Round Rock, and the team is hopeful that he will be activated for Tuesday's clash with the Cubs.

It was an extremely inopportune time for Houston to be without two of its most irreplaceable assets, given the team is in the midst of a series with Boston and will take on the NL Central leading Cubs in a set that starts on Monday.

While Altuve will likely not be available for Game 1 of that series, the door is wide open for a return ahead of Game 2.

Prior to his injury, Altuve had been struggling at the plate. He was slashing just .243/.329/.472 and, despite his 9 homers, he had collected just 35 hits across 39 games.

Hopefully, now that he's back at full strength, he will return as the MVP-caliber player Astros fans have grown accustomed to marveling at whilst in the batter's box.