Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said Carlos Correa was removed from the lineup because the 31‑year‑old has been dealing with an illness over the past few days, according to Matt Kawahara of The Houston Chronicle. It is the second consecutive game in which Correa has been pulled from the starting lineup.
Despite being kept out of the lineup, Correa is expected to do some pregame workouts to maintain his rhythm. The Astros could be keen on using him from the bench, but the team will look to have Correa back in the starting lineup by Friday in their next series against the Seattle Mariners.
Espada was quick to make sure that fans knew Correa was not injured in any way but was simply resting in order to be fully prepared for their next series matchup. With the Astros having the day off Thursday, it's exactly what Correa needs in order to be ready to go in order to make his way back to the lineup.
During Correa's absence, the Astros have relied on moving players around in order to cover the hole left behind by their star infielder. Even with the moves, the Astros have dropped both games against the Colorado Rockies in their series matchup.
Correa, who won the 2017 World Series championship with the Astros, continues to be a key component for the Houston-based team. In 11 games this season, Correa has a .262 batting average.
In 42 plate appearances, Correa has collected 11 hits, including one home run. Correa remains an important batter for the team.
© Erik Williams-Imagn Images
The 31-year-old has also rolled back the clock this year, showing off athleticism that has not been seen by the infielder in years. During the April 5 game against the Rockies, Correa stole a base for the first time since the 2019 MLB season.
Correa is currently in his ninth season with the Astros, the team that saw him make his debut at Minute Maid Park back in 2015. He returned to the team in a trade during the 2025 season after spending nearly four years playing for the Minnesota Twins.
The Astros are currently sitting in second place in the AL West, just half a game behind the division leaders, the Texas Rangers. The 2017 and 2022 World Series champions will look to make a playoff push this season after placing second in their division last year, missing out on the 2025 MLB playoffs entirely.
