The New York Yankees escaped Houston with an 8–4 win Thursday night, but the bigger story came when Jazz Chisholm Jr. limped out of the game. The All-Star second baseman bruised both knees in separate incidents within the first three innings, including a third-inning collision with Jose Altuve that has sparked questions about intent.
Collision Sparks Concern
Chisholm’s rough night began in the second inning when a groundball off the bat of Ramón Urías forced him to drop to a knee. His vision was briefly blocked by the second-base umpire, and in bracing to keep the ball in front, he smacked his right knee against the infield dirt.
An inning later came the moment that drew headlines. With Altuve attempting to steal second, Yankees catcher Austin Wells delivered the throw. As Chisholm applied the tag, Altuve’s helmet slammed into his left knee. Chisholm winced immediately, struggled to stay upright, and did not return for the fourth.
Speaking afterward, Chisholm didn’t directly accuse Altuve or the Astros of foul play, but he didn’t exactly let them off the hook either.
“I don’t know because they came in pretty hard all week,” Chisholm said, referencing what he considered aggressive slides by Houston runners throughout the series.
That quote set the stage for speculation. Columnist Randy Miller from NJ.com noted that while no one can prove intent, the Yankees’ history with Altuve—and the Astros’ reputation as agitators—make it fair to wonder whether Thursday’s collision was as accidental as it looked.
The Yankees wasted little time in sending Chisholm for imaging. The tests provided relief: no ligament damage, no tears. Both knees were diagnosed with contusions. By the time New York’s charter landed, Chisholm felt good enough to offer a two-word update on social media reported by the Post’s Greg Joyce: “We’re good.”
Manager Aaron Boone struck a similar tone.
“I don’t think it’s anything major, at least that’s the sense right now,” Boone said. “We’ll see [Friday] how he’s doing.”
The expectation inside the Yankees’ clubhouse is that Chisholm will be available when the team opens a critical weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.
What It Means for the Yankees
For the Yankees, the timing of this scare is no small detail. Chisholm has been one of the lineup’s anchors since arriving via trade last season, putting together a campaign that has him on the brink of a 30-homer, 30-steal season. He owns an .838 OPS with 28 home runs and 26 stolen bases, production that has made him indispensable in a lineup that has wavered between dominance and inconsistency.
The Yankees are still chasing the Blue Jays in the American League East, sitting three games back entering the weekend. Losing Chisholm, even briefly, could tilt the balance. That’s why his quick recovery—and his confidence in returning Friday—matter almost as much as the win column.
The lingering question, however, may stretch beyond the health update. Was Altuve’s slide a fluke accident, or the latest chapter in an Astros-Yankees rivalry defined by suspicion? Chisholm himself left the door open, and with October looming, New York can’t afford to let doubt creep in.
For now, the scans are clean, the knees are sore but stable, and the Yankees are counting on their second baseman to be back in the lineup. Whether the collision proves to be nothing more than bad luck or a spark for another feud, the Bronx will be watching.
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