Astros star Altuve put on Injured List with knee strain

Houston Astros star Jose Altuve was placed on the 10-day injured list before Saturday’s doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels.

The move is retroactive to Friday after the second baseman sprained his right knee while sliding into third base during Thursday’s game against Texas.

The 2017 AL MVP is batting only .224 this season, but he was 16 of 48 over his last 14 games, including six multihit games. He recorded his 1,600th hit on Thursday, becoming the sixth player in franchise history to reach that milestone.

Aledmys Diaz and Jake Mayfield are expected to play second base during Altuve’s absence.

ORIOLES’ SANTANDER LIKELY OUT FOR SEASON >> Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander has a strained oblique and likely will miss the remainder of the season.

Santander has been one of the best players on a rebuilding team that has performed above expectations following two straight 100loss seasons. Baltimore took a 17-21 record into Saturday night’s game against the Yankees.

Santander sustained the injury in the opener of a doubleheader against New York on Friday.

“When he came out of the game, that didn’t look good,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “That one definitely hurt.”

With three weeks to go in the abbreviated 60-game schedule, the Orioles are bracing for finishing without Santander, who was batting .261 to go with his team-leading 11 homers and 32 RBIS.

“It’s definitely a possibility,” Hyde said. “Really happy with the year he’s had. It’s a huge loss for us and he’s very disappointed.”

Santander, 25, broke into the majors with Baltimore in 2017. He has a career batting average of .252 with 32 home runs (including 20 last year) and 99 RBIS.

Hyde said DJ Stewart will get the majority of playing time in right field. Stewart was 0 for 16 through Friday.

NATIONALS GM RIZZO GETS EXTENSION >> The Washington Nationals and general manager Mike Rizzo finalized a multiyear contract extension Saturday.

Manager Dave Martinez hopes he is next up. The 59-year-old Rizzo, who also holds the title of president of baseball operations, built the team that won the 2019 World Series championship. The Nationals have won four NL East titles, most recently in 2017. They won the last season’s World Series after making the playoffs as a wild card.

Rizzo’s contract was set to expire at the end of this season. Martinez said his boss earned his new deal.

“He deserves it,” Martinez said. “He built this organization and good for him.