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Hinch: Altuve's on '1 leg' and wouldn't be playing in regular season

Elsa / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Jose Altuve is clearly not 100 percent.

Thanks to a nagging knee injury, the Houston Astros' star second baseman will be used as the designated hitter for a third straight game on Thursday night against the Boston Red Sox in Game 5 of the ALCS. Manager A.J. Hinch said Altuve wouldn't suit up at all if this were the regular season, as he's playing on "one leg," according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.

Hinch added that Altuve is absolutely integral to the team's success.

"You should try to live with someone pulling your heart out of your body and see how long you live. We're not going to live without Jose," the manager said.

Even if Hinch wanted to give Altuve some much-needed rest, the reigning American League MVP may not be open to the idea.

"You’re going to have to drag him off the field and I applaud him for that,” Hinch said.

Despite being hobbled, Altuve's still getting on base in the ALCS. In four games against the Red Sox, he has an OBP of .368 thanks to three walks and four hits.

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