Correa returns to lineup despite being in 'a lot of pain'

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa will be in the starting lineup Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels despite being in "a lot of pain," manager A.J. Hinch told reporters.

The 22-year-old aggravated a left shoulder injury that's bothered him for close to three weeks during a diving attempt on a fly ball on Friday.

But with the Astros two games back of a wild-card spot in the AL, Correa is willing to push through the pain to help out his club.

"It's a grind," Correa said before Saturday's game. "It's a long season, so you have to learn how to play with your body not feeling 100 percent all the time."

Correa won't be 100 percent, but he isn't too much different from many players around the league this far into the season according to Hinch, so slotting him into the lineup isn't too much of a risk.

"Most of these guys this time of year - something's hurting them. He has a little bit more of a definitive injury than he had a couple weeks ago, but he's not going to further injure himself by playing or by making any play in the field." Hinch explained.

"But he's not going to feel comfortable. He's not going to have full range of motion. He's not going to have 100 percent of his flexibility and strength until the offseason."

During his sophomore campaign, the 2015 AL Rookie of the Year is slashing .272/.361/.456 with 20 home runs, 35 doubles, and 93 RBIs.