Astros injury update: What's going on with Yordan Alvarez?
Injury issues have hindered the Houston Astros throughout their World Series title defense, and now the team's top slugger has suffered a setback in the health department.
Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez—who leads the MLB with 55 RBI, while ranking in the top five in OPS (.963), home runs (15) and slugging percentage (.579)—exited Thursday's game in Toronto following a groundout in the first inning. The Blue Jays went on to win 3-2, handing Houston its third consecutive loss.
Most concerning for the Astros is not their slide to five games back of the AL West lead, but the health of the most dangerous hitter in their lineup. According to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Alvarez, who was in the designated hitter role on Thursday, "said he felt oblique soreness on his final swing in the batting cage before the game and then aggravated it when he swung and missed twice in his first-inning at-bat against Jays starter José Berríos."
The Astros announced Friday that Alvarez has been placed on the 10-day injured list with right oblique discomfort and "will return to Houston for further evaluation." Houston manager Dusty Baker did not provide many specifics when speaking with the media following Thursday's game, but his immediate response to the injury hinted that the team would be without Alvarez for some period of time.
"That’s a tough blow right there," Baker said, per Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle. "We’ve just got to regroup and see how we’re going to get through this."
While Alvarez's injury spurs concerns, especially given Houston's offensive inconsistency this season, Jose Altuve's recent recovery from an oblique issue could be a source of optimism. Altuve, who was sidelined for nearly two months to start the year with a fractured thumb, was able to return to the lineup after missing four games earlier this month.
The Astros' next game is scheduled for Friday, as they start a three-game road series against the Cleveland Guardians.
Source: Chron
