Altube, bregman to return to Astros on Saturday

The Houston Astros will finally have their starting infield intact again, with All-Star power, when second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman return to the starting lineup Saturday. Both Astros regulars will take their defensive positions for the first time in an exhibition game against the New York Mets at Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Bregman will make his Grapefruit League debut after he had minor surgery on his right elbow on Jan. 11. Altuve, who had surgery to repair a broken right kneecap at the end of last season, has gone 0-for-5 as a designated hitter in two spring games, striking out three times against the Miami Marlins on Thursday. After the Astros defeated the Marlins 7-5 on Thursday, Houston manager AJ Hinch wasn't discouraged by the performance of Altuve, the 2017 American League MVP.

"It's very rare for him to swing and miss on the strike 3s," Hinch said. "But he's in a really good place physically and even timing-wise, right on time. "I have no concerns with him, it's just a matter of repetition. It's the first time post-surgery but I'm not apprehensive about putting him out there. ... Based on how he's worked on the back fields with the defensive work we've done, he's more than ready."