Astros Want To "Cut Back" On Yordan Alvarez's Time In The Outfield
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said he would like to "cut back" on outfielder Yordan Alvarez's playing time in left field next year. Espada also praised Zach Dezenzo's development in left field during winter ball in Puerto Rico, so perhaps Dezenzo will be awarded some playing time at the position next year when the Astros elect to use Alvarez as the designated hitter. The 27-year-old Alvarez played 53 games in left field in 2024 and served as the DH 94 times in 147 regular-season games for the 'Stros. A right-knee sprain kept Alvarez sidelined towards the end of September. Position aside, Alvarez is an everyday hitter with elite batted-ball metrics and a low strikeout rate, which is a testament to just how good of an all-around hitter he is. He played in a career-high 147 games last year and cleared the 30-homer mark for the fourth straight year. Injuries are always an issue, but few boast the kind of dominant hitting consistency that Alvarez has shown in recent seasons.
Yordan Alvarez In Lineup For Game 1 Of Wild-Card Series
Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (knee) is serving as the DH and is batting second for Game 1 of the wild-card series on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers and left-hander Tarik Skubal at Minute Maid Park. Alvarez sprained his right knee while sliding over a week ago and was forced to sit out the final week of the regular season as a result. The 27-year-old lefty slugger did some hitting and running on Monday and was cleared to be part of the postseason roster. When healthy, Alvarez is one of the best all-around hitters in baseball, but it's unclear how healthy he actually is, and he'll be facing Skubal, who won the American League pitching Triple Crown in 2024. Alvarez was an All-Star this year for the third straight season and hit a cool .308/.392/.567 with 35 homers, 86 RBI and six steals in 147 games played.
Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (knee) will reportedly hit on Monday, according to manager Joe Espada. The superstar slugger has been sidelined since September 22 due to a lingering knee issue. It sounds like Alvarez has been making solid progress and should be ready for the Wild Card series against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday. The expectation is that Alvarez is going to DH during that series. The Astros will take that as they'd be in serious trouble if their superstar slugger was unable to hit in the postseason.
Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (knee) won't accompany the team to Cleveland this weekend for their series against the Guardians to close out the 2024 regular season, according to manager Joe Espada. Alvarez will stay in Houston to work with the team's doctors and training staff. The left-handed slugger still isn't doing baseball activity after spraining his right knee on a slide on Sunday, but he is feeling better. The 27-year-old was hoping to get some at-bats this weekend, but that won't be the case, and the Astros can only hope that he'll be ready to go for the first round of the playoffs next week. The Cuban slugger finishes his 2024 regular season with another strong campaign, slashing .308/.392/.567 with a .959 OPS, 35 home runs, 86 RBI, six steals and 88 runs scored in 552 at-bats. Jason Heyward should see regular playing time in the outfield the rest of the way for Houston.
Yordan Alvarez Hopes To Get Some At-Bats This Weekend
Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (knee) said he's able to put more weight on his leg on Tuesday but still isn't able to turn his knee at all. Alvarez said he's hoping to get some at-bats this weekend in the final series of the regular season against the Cleveland Guardians, but that will be contingent on the swelling in his knee. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger was diagnosed with a right-knee sprain after undergoing an MRI exam on Monday. It's the worst possible time for the Astros to lose one of the best all-around hitters in baseball with the playoffs beginning next week. If he is unable to get some at-bats this weekend against the Guardians, there's no guarantee that Alvarez will be ready to go for the start of the postseason. Jason Heyward is going to benefit from extra playing time in the outfield in Houston with Alvarez dinged up.
After undergoing an MRI exam on Monday, Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (knee) was diagnosed with a right-knee sprain. Alvarez did not play in the series-opening loss to the division-rival Seattle Mariners on Monday and will not be available for the entire series. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger was removed from Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels when he injured his right knee on a slide. While it's not great Houston won't have one of the best hitters in MLB available for their crucial series against the M's, the Astros' primary objective will be to have Alvarez ready to go for the start of the playoffs next week. It wouldn't be a surprise if Alvarez is also unavailable this weekend against the Cleveland Guardians. The left-handed hitting Jason Heyward made the start in left field on Monday and should see more run until Alvarez is able to return.
Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (knee) had an MRI exam on Monday afternoon after X-rays on Sunday showed "inflammation" in his knee, according to manager Joe Espada. The skipper said that Alvarez woke up on Monday morning "pretty sore." The 27-year-old left-handed slugger was removed from Sunday's game early against the Los Angeles Angels due to discomfort in his right knee after a slide. He was not in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park and should be considered day-to-day until further notice. The Astros would be dealt a huge blow if Alvarez, one of the best hitters in the game, isn't ready for the start of the playoffs next week, so he may not play much, if at all, the rest of the week. Jason Heyward got the start in left field for the Astros on Monday against the M's.
Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (knee) is absent from the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener at Minute Maid Park against the division-rival Seattle Mariners. The left-handed-hitting Jason Heyward is starting in left field and is batting eighth, with Jon Singleton serving as the DH and batting fifth against Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller. Victor Caratini is at first base and is hitting sixth. It's not a surprise that Alvarez is out on Monday after leaving Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Angels due to a right-knee contusion that he suffered while sliding. Until we know the results of the 27-year-old's MRI exam, consider him day-to-day. The Astros can ill-afford to lose one of the best hitters in baseball with the playoffs beginning next week. The three-time All-Star is currently hitting .308/.392/.567 with a .959 OPS, 35 homers, 86 RBI and even six steals in 147 games.
Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (knee) was taken out of Sunday's contest early against the division-rival Los Angles Angels with a right-knee contusion following a hard slide into second base in the third inning. Manager Joe Espada said that Alvarez was undergoing imaging tests after the game to determine the severity of the injury. Alvarez was massaging his right knee before he hobbled off the field. Before leaving, he went 2-for-2 at the plate. "Not what I wanted to see when I ran out there," Espada said. "It's pretty sore. Just when he slid, his weight on the knee and just the way it handled. Hopefully we get some good news here." Alvarez had arthroscopic surgery on both of his knees in August of 2020 and also had a slight tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee. For now, consider him day-to-day, but don't expect Alvarez to play on Monday against the Mariners.
Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez broke out of his slump Saturday, going 4-for-5 with a solo home run, his 35th of the season. He also scored twice. The 3x All-Star came into the game hitting .118 (4-for-34) over his previous nine contests. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old is having another productive season overall, amassing a .305-35-86-88-6 line with a .399 wOBA and 166 wRC+. He'll look to keep it going on Sunday versus the Angels' Griffin Canning (5.16 ERA, 1.39 WHIP) who he is 5-for-11 off of lifetime, including a pair of homers.
Yordan Alvarez
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Astros
