Houston Astros fans pleased with Mauricio Dubon's offensive numbers while stepping in for an injured Jose Altuve: "Couldn't have asked for more!"

Mauricio Dubon has been an excellent fill-in second baseman for the Houston Astros in place of the injured Jose Altuve. He's played great at second base and put up some impressive offensive numbers.

Dubon slashed .309/.333/.389 with a team-high 46 hits. He also has 27 runs scored. Dubon could not have played better in a rare season where he consistently found himself in an MLB lineup.

Now, his playing time is up in the air as Jose Altuve is rumored to make his 2023 season debut over the weekend. The All-Star second baseman has been on the IL all season with a fractured thumb, which he suffered in the World Baseball Classic.

It will be interesting to see how manager Dusty Baker facilitates Dubon in the future. As we advance, Altuve is the team's second baseman, but Dubon has earned his right to get some playing time after Altuve returns.

"Couldn't have asked for more!! Might have added some pop (OPS) as he went along?" one fan tweeted.

"No one anticipated his success. Congrats to him. We need to keep that hot bat in the lineup!" another fan tweeted.

Houston Astros fans couldn't be happier with Mauricio Dubon's performance while taking over for Jose Altuve. He got the starting job and ran with it.

Fans would love for manager Dusty Baker to find a way to keep him in the lineup regularly. They believe he has more than earned his right to be in the lineup offensively and defensively.

How will the Houston Astros manage Mauricio Dubon in the future?

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Luckily, for Mauricio Dubon, he's a utility player with experience playing second base, shortstop, and all three outfield positions. This will give him a great opportunity to get back in the lineup.

Altuve will likely be under a load management schedule to knock the rust off. Dubon will fill in for Altuve on his days off.

Another scenario where Dubon could find himself in the starting lineup is in the outfield. Houston has no permanent center fielder, and Dubon could see some time in center. They could also deploy him in left field, giving Yordan Alvarez the DH role.

Houston has plenty of options to give Dubon playing time throughout the season. While his playing time will be cut down, fans can expect him back in a utility role, helping out the team in any way he can.