Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Less action in left field for 2025?
Rotowire
Manager Joe Espada said Monday that he would like to "cut back" on Alvarez's playing time in left field for the 2025 season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Of the 147 regular-season games Alvarez played in 2024, 94 of them were as the designated hitter compared to 53 games in left field. Part of Espada's desire to restrict Alvarez's playing time in the outfield is partially due with the left-handed slugger's right knee sprain toward the end of the 2024 regular season. If Alvarez serves as the Astros' full-time DH for 2025, that would mean more playing time in the outfield for the likes of Chas McCormick, Mauricio Dubon and 24-year-old Zach Dezenzo, who Rome notes played in left field during winter baseball in Puerto Rico.
Alvarez (knee) will start at designated hitter and bat second Tuesday in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series versus the Tigers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Alvarez missed the final week of the regular season with a right knee sprain, but he's progressed sufficiently enough to be included on the Astros' wild-card series roster and in their Game 1 lineup. The 27-year-old slashed .308/.392/.567 with 35 home runs in 147 games this season.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Will hit, run Monday to test knee
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Alvarez (knee) will do some hitting and running Monday at Minute Maid Park to test out his potential availability for the wild-card series, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Astros manager Joe Espada had said Sunday that Alvarez was going to take batting practice Monday, and now he's revealed that the slugger will do some running, too. How he feels during and after the workout will determine whether Alvarez will be part of the team's roster for the first round of the postseason. Alvarez has missed a little over a week of action with a right knee sprain.
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Set for hitting work Monday
Rotowire
Alvarez (knee) is expected to take part in some hitting work with the Astros on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Alvarez has been working his way back from a right knee sprain that he suffered Sept. 22. The lefty slugger still has some boxes to check, but manager Joe Espada is more optimistic than he was earlier in the week that Alvarez will be able to contribute to Houston's postseason efforts. The Astros will begin their wild-card series with the Tigers in Houston on Tuesday, but as yet it's unclear if Alvarez will be available.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: May begin activity Sunday
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Manager Joe Espada said Saturday that Alvarez (knee) could resume baseball activities Sunday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The skipper didn't specify what exactly Alvarez will be doing, but the fact Alvarez is nearing a return to activity is a good sign that his sprained knee is trending in the right direction. Once the 27-year-old slugger is able to test out his knee, the team may have a better idea of whether he'll be ready for the start of the AL Wild Card Series.
Alvarez (knee) will remain in Houston to work with the training staff and will miss the Astros' final series of the regular season this weekend in Cleveland, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Alvarez's regular season thus comes to a close, though manager Joe Espada noted that the slugger's sprained right knee is feeling better. Still, Alvarez has yet to resume baseball activities, so he'll continue to rehab back in Houston with the goal of returning in time for the start of the wild-card round, which begins Tuesday.
Alvarez has been diagnosed with a right knee sprain Monday and won't be available for at least the next two games, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
The Astros aren't ruling out a return for Alvarez during the team's final three-game series against the Guardians, but the club will shut him down for at least a few more days after tests revealed a sprain. Jon Singleton slotted in to the DH slot Monday night in Alvarez's absence and Victor Caratini got the nod at first base, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see these two continue to see at-bats at either spot until Alvarez is cleared to return.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: X-ray negative, MRI still coming
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Alvarez will undergo an MRI on his right knee Monday after an X-ray on Sunday came back negative, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Alvarez exited Sunday's game against the Angels after banging his knee on the ground on a slide and is not in the lineup for Monday's series opener versus the Mariners. Astros manager Joe Espada noted that the slugger woke up sore Monday, although Alvarez had been set to undergo an MRI regardless. Consider Alvarez day-to-day for now, with more clarity on his situation potentially coming later in the day.
