Sports
Astros' Jose Altuve to make spring debut on Friday, play left field
Oct 1, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) takes batting practice before playing against the Detroit Tigers in game one of the Wild Card round for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Career second baseman Jose Altuve will make his spring training debut on Friday, and he’ll do it in left field, Houston Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters on Wednesday.
Following the trade of All-Star Kyle Tucker, the Astros have an opening in the outfield. And Altuve has said he will play anywhere on the field that he’s needed.
Altuve, who turns 35 in May, has played 1,766 games at second base and two at shortstop, never manning the outfield during his 14 seasons. A nine-time All-Star and former American League Most Valuable Player, he won the Gold Glove at second in 2015.
His defensive stats at second base have slipped in recent seasons, however. In the past three seasons, he has registered a minus-15 defensive runs saved and two campaigns of minus-13.
The seven-time Silver Slugger hasn’t dropped off offensively, though. Altuve, a three-time American League batting champion, has averages of .300, .311 and .295 during that span.
Espada told reporters on Tuesday that Altuve is doing well in his transition to left field.
“He’s actually been pretty good out there,” Espada said. “One thing, it’s practice and we can control the environment and the volume, but once the game starts he’ll be tested and we’ll get a better read of where he’s at. Right now, the attitude is exactly what we’re expecting and the work has been pretty good.”
Mauricio Dubon currently sits atop the depth chart at second base, but he is being challenged by Brendan Rodgers and Luis Guillorme.
The Astros will face the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday in West Palm Beach, Fla.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orioles All-Star C Adley Rutschman (wrist) placed on IL
Jul 12, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (35) waives to the fans before a game against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Baltimore Orioles standout catcher Adley Rutschman was placed on the 10-day injured with left wrist inflammation on Monday.
The move involving the three-time All-Star is retroactive to Sunday.
Rutschman represented the Orioles in the All-Star Game last week. He is batting .251 with eight homers, 19 doubles and 47 RBIs in 67 games this season.
Rutschman, 28, has been banged up this season, previously missing time due to a left ankle injury and a concussion.
Rutschman was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 draft and also made the American League All-Star team in 2023 and 2024.
He has a .254 career average with 69 homers and 277 RBIs in 572 games over five seasons with Baltimore.
Also, Baltimore backup catcher Samuel Basallo exited Sunday’s 5-2 win over the Houston Astros with right shoulder discomfort and manager Craig Albernaz termed him “day to day” on Monday. He has started 44 games behind the plate and has 16 homers and 46 RBIs in 86 overall games.
Sam Huff is the starting catcher for Monday’s game against the host Boston Red Sox. He is 4-for-26 (.154) in 10 games this season.
The Orioles also promoted catcher Chadwick Tromp from Triple-A Norfolk and designated outfielder Rudy Martin Jr. for assignment. Tromp went 2-for-3 with one RBI in one game for Baltimore earlier this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Padres' Miguel Andujar (fractured wrist) placed on 10-day IL
Jul 19, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Ty France (25) celebrates with designated hitter Miguel Andujar (41) against the Kansas City Royals after hitting a solo home run during the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images San Diego Padres utility man Miguel Andujar was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday after fracturing his right wrist during Sunday’s 19-2 road victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Padres manager Craig Stammen referred to the injury as a “little fracture” and said it wasn’t season-ending.
Andujar was hit by a pitch from Kansas City right-hander Lucas Erceg in the eighth inning of Sunday’s game. He remained in the game but later on, the wrist flared up.
“It was a breaking ball, we didn’t think much of it,” Stammen told reporters before Monday’s road game against the Atlanta Braves. “He kind of shook it off, went to first and said it didn’t really hurt that much.”
X-rays revealed the break. Stammen said doctors decided against putting a cast on Andujar, a move that can speed up the recovery.
Andujar, 31, is batting .259 with five homers and 22 RBIs in 74 games during his first season with the Padres. He has a .279 career mark with 58 blasts and 245 RBIs in 541 games over 10 seasons.
San Diego recalled catcher Rodolfo Duran from Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move. Duran batted .146 with three homers and eight RBIs in 35 games for the Padres earlier this season.
-Field Level Media
Sports
ATP roundup: Portugal's Tiago Torres debuts with win on home soil
Jul 1, 2026; London, United Kingdom; Ignacio Buse of Peru serves the ball during his match against Jensen Brooksby of the United States Ignacio base of Peru on day three at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images Portugal’s Tiago Torres captured his first ATP Tour victory in his debut, delighting the home crowd with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili on Monday in the first round of the Estoril Open.
Torres, who competed for four years at the University of Texas San Antonio, was ranked No. 427 but knocked off the 34-year-old veteran who reached No. 16 in the world in 2019. Torres, a wild-card entry, converted 5 of 7 break point chances.
Frenchman Titouan Droguet also pulled off an upset, knocking off seventh-seeded Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-0, 3-6, 6-4. Droguet broke Carabelli at 4-4 in the deciding set, staved off a break point and captured the match on his second attempt.
France’s Luca van Assche edged Portugal’s Frederico Ferreira Silva 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-1, and Spanish qualifier Pedro Martinez got past Portugal’s Henrique Rocha 7-5, 7-5.
Generali Open
Fifth-seeded Ignacio Buse, Peru’s top-ranked player, needed two hours and 38 minutes to defeat Czech Vit Kopriva 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-1, in the first round in Kitzbuhel, Austria.
Kopriva served for the first set at 5-4, but Buse broke twice to win the set and overwhelmed his opponent in the deciding set.
Argentina’s Facundo Diaz Acosta won the other three-set match of the first day, rallying to defeat Italian qualifier Federico Cina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
In the three other opening-round matches, Argentina’s Mariano Navone routed Alexandre Muller of France 6-4, 6-0; Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann edged Austria’s Lukas Neumayer 7-6 (5), 6-4 and, in a battle of Austrians, qualifier Jurji Rodionov cruised by wild card Joel Josef Schwaerzler 6-4, 6-2.
–Field Level Media
Orioles All-Star C Adley Rutschman (wrist) placed on IL
Padres' Miguel Andujar (fractured wrist) placed on 10-day IL
