A team that can ill afford any more injuries absorbed another.

Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes, an American League All-Star and the team’s home run leader, landed on the injured list Sunday after straining his right hamstring during Saturday’s 7-6 loss against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.

Houston now has 16 players on the injured list. No major-league team has more. Slugger Yordan Alvarez hasn’t played in a game since May 2, while shortstop Jeremy Peña and center fielder Jake Meyers — two .300 hitters — remain sidelined with injuries they sustained earlier this month. Of the Astros’ 16 players on the injured list, five of them — Peña, Meyers, Paredes, Alvarez and Brendan Rodgers — were in the team’s Opening Day lineup.

Paredes had been one of the club’s lone constants amid all the turnover. He started his 88th game of the season Saturday and his 93 appearances trail Jose Altuve for the team lead. Paredes’ 19 home runs lead the team and his .829 OPS trails just Peña for the team lead.

On Saturday, Paredes pulled up lame while running to first base after a third-inning single. He had a significant limp while approaching the bag and exited the game after a visit from manager Joe Espada and Houston’s athletic training staff.



After the game, Espada told reporters Paredes’ injury “doesn’t look very good.” The 26-year-old infielder returned to Houston on Sunday morning for further evaluation. The Astros called up infielder Shay Whitcomb to take Paredes’ spot on the active roster.

Paredes strained his left hamstring during a June 12 game against the Chicago White Sox, but missed just three games and did not require a trip to the injured list. He played the next 26 games without an obvious incident, though the Astros allowed him to be careful running the bases.

Without Paredes, the Astros’ infield will shrink into an almost unrecognizable state. Utilityman Mauricio Dubón is already playing shortstop in Peña’s stead, but could shift to third base as he did earlier this month during Paredes’ previous hamstring injury.

Veteran journeyman Zack Short — who replaced Paredes on Saturday — is the most obvious candidate to gain more playing time. Whitcomb could contribute, too.

(Photo: Alika Jenner / Getty Images)