Yordan Alvarez Injury News & Updates

Alvarez is dealing with a virus that's led to an upset stomach and headaches, Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome of The Athletic report.

Alvarez is in the lineup Monday for Game 2 of the ALCS but it appears he'll be participating at less than full strength. The slugger played through the illness in Game 1, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a weakly-hit grounder. Alvarez is at designated hitter and batting cleanup for Houston in Game 2.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Mariners.

Alvarez's homer was his third in the last four games and his 31st of the year. The slugger's blast went to deep center field to tie the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning. He's up to a .293/.409/.591 slash line with 97 RBI, 76 runs scored and 24 doubles through 111 contests this season.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Monday's 5-1 win over the Mariners.

Alvarez has homered in back-to-back games to reach the 30-homer mark for the season. His blast Monday was a massive one to right-center field to pad the Astros' lead in the third inning. The designated hitter is at a .297/.411/.593 slash line with 96 RBI, 74 runs scored and 24 doubles through 109 games this season.

Alvarez said Friday that he has been limited to DH duties because of a right elbow issue, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez felt something in his throwing elbow while swinging a bat 10 days ago, which explains why he last played the outfield Sept. 13. His limitations have pushed Michael Brantley to left field and often Yainer Diaz to the bench. It's unclear when Alvarez might be able to cycle back into the mix in left, but at least his bat can remain active in the meantime. He hit a first-inning RBI double in the Astros' loss to the Royals on Friday.

Alvarez is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Orioles.

Alvarez is hitting .298 with five home runs, nine runs and 16 RBI in 17 games this month. Yainer Diaz draws the start at designated hitter while Jake Meyers gets a nod in the outfield.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 6-2 win against the Athletics.

Alvarez broke a scoreless tie in the third inning with a three-run shot to right field off Paul Blackburn. The long ball was his fourth over his past eight games, a span in which he's batting .407 (11-for-27) with 11 RBI, seven runs and a 7:6 BB:K. Alvarez is up to 27 home runs on the season, tied with Kyle Tucker for the team lead.

Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two runs, two RBI and a walk in Saturday's 7-5 win over San Diego.

Alvarez put the Astros on the board in the third inning with his 407-foot solo shot. He added another RBI on a ground-rule double in the fifth and came around to score following that knock. Alvarez has gone deep three times in his past four games, going 7-for-13 with seven RBI and six walks over that stretch. He needs four more homers before the end of the campaign to reach 30 for the third straight season.

Alvarez went 3-for-6 with a two-run home run Tuesday against the Rangers.

Alvarez suffered an injury scare Sunday after suffering a minor knee injury while playing the outfield. He's remained in the lineup and shown no signs of slowing down at the dish in two games since, reaching base six times across 12 at-bats. As expected, Alvarez has been an excellent hitter since returning from an oblique injury July 26, maintaining a .316 average with seven homers, 24 RBI and 22 runs scored across 36 contests.

Alvarez (knee) is starting at designated hitter and batting third Monday versus the Rangers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez banged his knee while playing the outfield in Sunday's loss to the Yankees, but he finished out that game and won't have to miss Monday's key division matchup against the Rangers. The slugger enters play Monday having reached base a whopping 22 times over his last eight games.

Alvarez banged his knee during Sunday's loss to the Yankees but was able to remain in the game, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvaraz tripped while tracking down a flyball during Sunday's game but was able to remain in the game following a lengthy discussion with a trainer. He went 1-for-4 in the loss, and manager Dusty Baker said after the matchup that the team will have to wait to see how Alvarez feels Monday before determining his status for the series opener against the Rangers.

Alvarez went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a solo home run in Tuesday's 6-2 victory over the Red Sox.

Alvarez went back-to-back with Alex Bregman in the first inning Tuesday, staking Houston to an early 2-0 lead. The 26-year-old Alvarez has logged multiple hits in each of his last four games -- he's gone 11-for-20 (.550) with two homers and a 1.609 OPS in that span, boosting his slash line to .293/.397/.576 with 23 homers, 77 RBI and 61 runs scored through 373 plate appearances in another impressive campaign.

Alvarez went 2-for-6 with a double, a walk, a run scored and three RBI on Sunday against the Tigers.

Alvarez was forced to miss games on Tuesday and Wednesday due to a finger injury but has hit well in four games since returning. In that span, he's driven in four while collecting five hits across 17 at-bats with no strikeouts. Alvarez has been on a relative cold streak with no homers spanning his last 18 games, though he still has a .265 ISO and .928 OPS across 362 plate appearances on the season.

Alvarez (finger) will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup Thursday versus the Red Sox in his return to the lineup, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez missed the previous two contests after accidentally slamming his left index finger in a door, but he's ready to roll Thursday as the Astros try to win the series against Boston. The slugger will bring a 13-game homerless streak into Thursday's action.

Manager Dusty Baker said he is "hopeful" Alvarez (finger) will be able to rejoin the lineup Thursday against the Red Sox, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chroniclereports.

The 26-year-old slugger is on the bench Wednesday for the second straight day after he accidentally slammed his left index finger in a door, but that could be the end of his absence. Yainer Diaz is receiving another start at designated hitter in Alvarez's place versus Boston.

Alvarez (finger) remains out of the lineup Wednesday versus the Red Sox.

Alvarez was scratched Tuesday after injuring his left index finger when he slammed a door on his hand at home. Astros manager Dusty Baker said it should only be a day-to-day type of issue, which suggests that the big slugger might be able to return in full for Thursday's series finale against Boston. Yainer Diaz is filling the DH role for Houston on Wednesday.

Alvarez was scratched from Tuesday's lineup against the Red Sox with a left index finger injury, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

He injured his finger in a door at his home Tuesday. Manager Dusty Baker said he hopes to have Alvarez back in the lineup Wednesday. Yainer Diaz was added to the starting nine in his place.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Sunday's win over the Yankees.

Alvarez hasn't shown any signs of rust since returning from a nearly two-month stint on the injured list -- he's now 13-for-36 (.361) with four homers in 10 games since he was reinstated. Overall, the 26-year-old Alvarez is slashing a robust .290/.396/.613 with 21 homers, 62 RBI and 49 runs scored across 283 plate appearances this season.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's win over the Yankees.

Alvarez is up to 20 home runs on the season and has hit safely in each of his eight games since returning from a 39-game stint on the injured list. His 1.017 OPS is nearly identical to last season and despite the missed time, he's still on pace for a third consecutive season with 30 or more homers. A healthy Alvarez remains one of the best hitters in the game and a stalwart in the heart of the Astros lineup.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Guardians, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez started all five games since being activated from the injured list last Wednesday, and he'll receive a day off after going 7-for-18 with a double, two homers, four RBI and five runs. Yainer Diaz will bat seventh as Houston's designated hitter Tuesday.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in Monday's 7-3 win against Cleveland.

Alvarez turned the tide of the game in sixth inning, smashing a three-run shot to right field to give Houston its first lead. The long ball was his second in his past three games and gave him at least one hit in each of his five contests since returning from the injured list July 26. During that span, Alvarez has gone 7-for-18 with the two homers, four RBI and five runs scored.

Alvarez went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and three runs scored Saturday against the Rays.

Alvarez's home run came off backup catcher Rene Pinto, though he was having a productive game before his 18th long ball of the season. He has at least one hit in all three games since returning from the injured list and is showing no lingering seasons of the oblique issue that cost him 39 games. When healthy, Alvarez has maintained an impressive .418 wOBA and 172 wRC+ across 255 plate appearances on the season.

Alvarez went 1-for-2 with a double, a walk and a hit-by-pitch in Wednesday's 13-5 loss to the Rangers.

Alvarez did fairly well in his return from a right oblique injury that sidelined him for over six weeks. He batted fifth as the designated hitter, which will likely be his primary position initially, though he could also challenge slumping rookie Corey Julks -- who is 0-for-24 over his last eight games -- for time in left field. Alvarez is slashing .279/.394/.593 with 17 home runs, 55 RBI, 41 runs scored and 13 doubles through 58 contests, so he should provide a power boost from the heart of the Astros' lineup.

The Astros reinstated Alvarez (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Now that he's been activated, Alvarez will presumably return to the lineup Wednesday against the Rangers for what will be his first game with the Astros since June 8. Alvarez has taken longer than expected to heal up from the right oblique injury, but the Astros are hopeful he'll be able to shake off any rust quickly to provide a much-needed boost to the lineup. Prior to being activated, Alvarez made three rehab appearances with Triple-A Sugar Land last week, going 3-for-9 with a double and two walks.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said TTuesday there's a chance Alvarez (oblique) returns to the lineup Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez will be re-evaluated Wednesday and could start against the Rangers if everything goes well. The star slugger has been on the injured list since June 9 and began a rehab assignment Wednesday. He's played three games with Triple-A Sugar Land, going 3-for-9 with two RBI and two walks.

Alvarez (oblique) will not be activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday's game versus the Rangers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Monday that it's possible Alvarez would return to action Tuesday or Wednesday, but we can now cross the first day off that list. The slugger has been on the shelf early June due to a right oblique strain. Houston is idle Thursday, leaving Alvarez with potentially four games to play in this week if he returns Wednesday.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Monday that Alvarez (oblique) is still being evaluated and could be activated Tuesday or Wednesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The team's general manager, Dana Brown, had said previously that he expected Alvarez to be active Monday. However, Houston has ultimately decided to wait at least one more day. It does sound like fantasy managers should probably play Alvarez this week, if lineups aren't already locked. The slugger has been sidelined since early June due to a right oblique strain.

Alvarez (oblique) was spotted taking part in running drills in the outfield Monday, but he wasn't activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of the Astros' series opener versus the Rangers, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

According to Rome, general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that the Astros planned to have Alvarez back in the lineup for Monday's series opener following a successful three-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land over the weekend, but the big club will delay any roster move for at least one more day. Manager Dusty Baker didn't shed much light on the situation when asked Monday, making it difficult to discern whether Alvarez wasn't activated for the series opener as a matter of precaution or because his oblique is acting up again. After Monday, the Astros will play just five more games this week, so fantasy managers in weekly leagues who were planning on including Alvarez in active lineups may be best off keeping him on the bench or in a reserve spot while his status is uncertain.

Alvarez (oblique) is expected to play Friday and Saturday with Triple-A Sugar Land before returning to the Astros on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a single and a walk in his rehab debut Wednesday at Sugar Land. He'll take the night off Thursday before logging several more tuneup at-bats over the weekend. Out since early June due to a right oblique strain, the 26-year-old slugger can provide a massive boost to the Astros as they attempt to chase down the first-place Rangers in the AL West standings.

Alvarez (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez was originally scheduled to begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A on Friday, but it had to be pushed back after he came down with an illness. Now that he's feeling better, he'll return to game action for the first time since landing on the injured list June 9 with a strained right oblique. There's been no word on how long Alvarez might spend on assignment, but the Astros will likely be eager to return one of their top hitters relatively quickly.

Alvarez (oblique/illness) worked out in Houston on Saturday and is feeling better, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

It is not clear, however, when he will be ready to begin a rehab assignment. Alvarez had been slated to start playing in rehab games with Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday but has been delayed due to illness. It shouldn't be long before he's game-ready, with a return to the Astros' lineup coming shortly after.

Alvarez's (oblique) rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land was delayed due to illness.

Alvarez was slated to begin playing in games with Sugar Land on Friday, but his return to the field will have to wait as he fights off an illness. It's unclear what effect this will have on Alvarez's return to Houston, but the Astros will surely look to get their star slugger back as soon as possible. Alvarez has been on the IL since early June with a right oblique strain.

Alvarez (oblique) will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez has been working out lately without issue and is ready to test things out in a game setting. The Astros have not revealed how many rehab games the slugger might require, but a return to the major-league roster by early next week would seem possible. Alvarez has been on the shelf since early June with a right oblique strain.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Alvarez (oblique) will "for sure" head out on a rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez doesn't sound like he'll be an option for the Astros' first series of the second half that begins Friday in Anaheim, but if he joins a minor-league affiliate by next weekend and is able to get at least a game or two under his belt, he could be ready to return from the 10-day injured list at some point during the third week of July. The slugger has resided on the IL since June 9 due to the right oblique strain.

Alvarez (oblique) took on-field batting practice Friday in Houston, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The rehabbing slugger will next advance to simulated at-bats this Sunday as he completes his recovery from the right oblique strain that sent him to the injured list June 8. Alvarez seems likely to be ready to return to the Astros' active roster shortly after the All-Star break as long as there are no setbacks along the way.

Alvarez (oblique) took batting practice in the cage Sunday and swung at 60 percent intensity, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

It's the first time the 26-year-old has taken batting practice since he suffered the oblique strain June 8, but he still has significant work to do in his rehab program before returning from the injured list. Alvarez is without a clear timetable for his return, but an activation in mid-July seems feasible if he can avoid any setbacks.

Alvarez (oblique) hit off a tee and took soft-toss Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez is slowly but steadily easing back into baseball activities as he tries to get over the hump in his recovery from the right oblique strain that has sidelined him since early June. There's no exact timetable yet for his return to the Astros' active roster, but mid-July seems like a reasonable target if he's able to avoid setbacks. When healthy this year, the 26-year-old slugger has produced a .978 OPS with 17 home runs and 55 RBI across 57 games.

Alvarez (oblique) went through some stretching pregame Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

It's not much, but it's the first bit of physical activity for Alvarez since he went down with a strained right oblique a week-and-a-half ago. Alvarez isn't expected to resume baseball activities for at least another couple weeks and will need an additional week or more before he's ready for games.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Wednesday in his radio appearance with Sportstalk 790 Houston that Alvarez (oblique) is expected to remain on the 10-day injured list for at least four weeks.

Specifically, Brown noted that Alvarez isn't expected to resume baseball activities for at least another three weeks, and the general manager implied that the slugger would likely require another 1-to-3 weeks after that to reach a point in his rehab program that he's ready to play in games. Based on the rough timeline laid out by Brown, Alvarez can be expected to remain out through the All-Star break, and his absence will most likely bleed into the start of the Astros' second-half schedule. Before he was deactivated Friday due to the right oblique strain, the 25-year-old had been in the thick of the American League MVP discussion after slashing .277/.388/.589 with 17 home runs, 55 RBI and 41 runs over 57 games.

Astros general manager Dana Brown suggested Wednesday that Alvarez (oblique) is likely at least three weeks away from resuming baseball activities, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Brown previously implied Sunday that Alvarez would be shelved for beyond the minimum 10 days due to the right oblique injury, but the general manager went into more specifics regarding the slugger's timeline for a return during a radio appearance with Sportstalk 790 Houston. Based on the three-week estimate to resume activities that Brown laid out for Alvarez, the Astros could be leaning toward holding the 25-year-old out through the All-Star break in mid-July. With both Alvarez and Michael Brantley (shoulder) out for the foreseeable future, the Astros are likely to rotate a number of players at the designated-hitter spot, as three different players have occupied that spot in the lineup over the past three contests.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that a timeline for Alvarez's (oblique) return from the 10-day injured list is "still up in the air a little bit," Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. "It will take a week at least to get a feel for how long it's going to be," Brown said, referring to the length of Alvarez's absence.

Oblique injuries are notorious for carrying volatile recovery timelines, so it's no surprise that Brown already seems to be discounting the possibility of Alvarez returning from the IL when first eligible June 19. On a positive note, Alvarez's injury has been described as right oblique discomfort rather than a strain, though it's possible that his diagnosis could change if he's sent in for further tests in the coming days. While Alvarez is out, the red-hot Mauricio Dubon could gain traction in an everyday role in left field, which would leave Corey Julks and Chas McCormick to jockey for playing time at designated hitter.

Alvarez was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with right oblique discomfort.

While the Astros are simply calling it discomfort for now, Alvarez is headed back to Houston to be further evaluated to see if he's dealing with a strain. Generally, oblique injuries result in longer than minimum stays on the IL, but more will be known once Alvarez gets checked out by the doctor.

Manager Dusty Baker suggested that Alvarez will miss time after suffering an oblique injury in Thursday's game against the Blue Jays, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez left Thursday's game after feeling discomfort in his oblique while taking swings in the early innings. There hasn't been any further diagnosis, but after the game, Baker said, "We've just got to regroup and try to figure out how we're going to win some ballgames and get through this." Corey Julks and Chas McCormick figure to be the primary beneficiaries of Alvarez's absence.

Alvarez exited Thursday's game against the Blue Jays with right oblique discomfort, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez was pulled from the game in the third inning after one plate appearance. He was serving as the designated hitter, so the issue presumably occurred during his lone plate appearance of the game. Corey Julks entered the game in his place.

Alvarez left Thursday's game against Toronto in the third inning, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

It's unknown why Alvarez came out of the game, but the Astros should provide an update in the near future. Alvarez grounded out in his lone plate appearance, so it's possible he tweaked something on the way to first base. Corey Julks will fill in for Alvarez the rest of the way Thursday.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Wednesday against the Blue Jays.

Alvarez took Chris Bassitt yard in the fourth inning to tally his 17th home run of the season and third in his last six starts. In addition to an impressive .968 OPS, Alvarez also leads the league in RBI with 55 across 56 games.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored Monday against the Blue Jays.

Alvarez took Trevor Richards deep in the fourth inning to tally his 16th home run of the season. It was already his second home run in five games during June, and he's also collected five RBI and five runs scored in that span. He also currently leads the league in RBI with 53 across 54 total games.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 6-2 win over the Angels.

Alvarez had a rather quiet week going into Friday -- he was just 1-for-14 with two walks and five strikeouts over his previous four games. He made an early impact with a first-inning homer off Shohei Ohtani. Alvarez is the first player in the majors with 50 RBI this year, which is a benefit of being a productive hitter in the heart of a strong lineup. He's slashing .279/.391/.585 with 15 homers, 37 runs scored and 11 doubles through 51 contests, though he's faded a bit lately by hitting safely in just three of his last 10 games.

Alvarez went 2-for-5 with two solo home runs in Sunday's 10-1 win over the Athletics.

Alvarez opened and closed the scoring in the same way, with near mirror-image solo shots in the first and ninth innings. He'd gone 0-for-9 with six walks over his last four games since a multi-homer effort versus the Brewers last Monday. Alvarez is up to 14 long balls, 48 RBI, 33 runs scored and a .291/.402/.612 slash line through 46 contests after Sunday's strong display of power.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a walk, three total runs and five total RBI in a 12-2 win against the Brewers on Monday.

Alvarez smacked a 425-foot solo shot in the fifth inning and followed that with a grand slam in the sixth. He's up to 12 homers on the campaign and has knocked in 46 runs, second-most in the majors. Those marks put Alvarez on pace to easily exceed his career-best marks of 37 long balls and 104 RBI.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Saturday's 3-2 win against Oakland.

Alvarez plated the game's initial run with a first-inning sacrifice fly, and he capped the scoring in the contest with an eighth-inning solo homer that provided the winning margin for Houston. The long ball was his 10th of the season, putting him among 30 MLB players to reach double-digit home runs so far this season. Alvarez has added a .292/.385/.569 slash line and 41 RBI through 169 plate appearances.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored Tuesday against the Cubs.

Alvarez tallied RBI knocks in the fourth and seventh innings, bringing his total on the season to 39. He's in the midst of a 13-game hitting streak, during which he's hit .354 with three homers, 12 RBI and eight runs scored. Overall, Alvarez has maintained an impressive .298/.400/.573 line across 155 plate appearances.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk Friday against the White Sox.

Alvarez added an insurance run with his ninth-inning homer, his ninth long ball of the season. He's shown plenty of power of late, going deep in back-to-back games and five times in his last 15 starts. Unsurprisingly, he has an impressive .408 wOBA and 164 wRC+ to go along with 35 RBI across 32 games this season.

Alvarez will be the designated hitter against the White Sox on Friday instead of playing in left, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Alvarez is still hitting third, but rather than playing left field he'll be the designated hitter for a game that has been delayed due to inclement weather. Corey Julks moves from the DH position to left field in Alvarez's place.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 6-4 win over Seattle.

Alvarez's 408-foot long ball to center gave Houston a 3-0 lead in the third inning. The power hitter is now tied for third in the league with 30 RBI, and now has hits in eight of his last nine games. It's worth noting, however, that the 25-year-old's current batting average (.263) is significantly below his mark from last season (.306). With that being said, Alvarez still has plenty of time to get hot and recapture his previous form.

Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a walk and a double Saturday against the Phillies.

Alvarez returned from a four-game absence caused by a neck injury and hit third while serving as the designated hitter. He was one of the few bright spots in the Astros' lineup as he managed to reach base at least three times for the third time in 21 games this season. Overall, Alvarez is hitting .269/.383/.551 across 94 plate appearances.

Alvarez (neck) is back in the starting lineup Saturday against the Phillies, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez will serve as the Astros' designated hitter and bat third versus the Phillies and right-hander Zack Wheeler after missing nearly a full week of action because of neck tightness. He returns Saturday to a .900 OPS with six home runs and a whopping 27 RBI through 20 games.

Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters that Alvarez (neck) is doing better and currently participating in pregame activities, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

When asked if Alvarez was available off the bench for Friday's game against the Phillies, Baker wouldn't say, claiming that the Phillies "might be listening." Alvarez is missing his fourth consecutive contest with the tightness in his neck, but it's obviously a positive sign that the slugger is participating in warmups. Assuming there are no trip ups, there's a good chance he's back in the lineup for Houston by the end of the weekend.

Alvarez (neck) is out of the lineup again Friday versus the Phillies, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez hasn't appeared in a game since last Sunday due to a lingering neck injury, but the fact that the Astros have yet to place him on the IL suggests that there have been recent signs of progress. Rylan Bannon will serve as the DH and bat eighth Friday in the series opener of this World Series rematch with Philadelphia. Corey Julks is in left field and hitting sixth.

Alvarez (neck) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez will wind up missing the Astros' entire three-game series in Tampa, as he remains in Houston while he continues to experience neck discomfort, which he had been playing through for nearly a week. According to Rome, manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday that Alvarez is feeling "about the same" as he did Tuesday, which doesn't inspire much confidence that he'll be ready to play coming out of Thursday's team off day. Baker noted that before a determination is made on whether Alvarez will require a stint on the 10-day injured list, the Astros' medical staff will re-evaluate the slugger when the team returns to Houston.

Alvarez (neck) remains out of the Astros' lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Rays, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

It's the second straight game he'll sit out with a neck injury which has been bothering him for the last week or so. A stint on the injured list for Alvarez hasn't been ruled out, although there's also been no indication to this point that that's where it's headed. Corey Julks is in left field and David Hensley is at designated hitter Tuesday.

Alvarez's neck injury is "about the same as yesterday," Astros manager Dusty Baker said in an interview on SportsTalk 790 in Houston on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Baker indicated Monday that an injured list stint for Alvarez hasn't been ruled out and added Tuesday that the club is awaiting word from its doctors on how to proceed with the injury. Alvarez first began experiencing neck discomfort about a week ago and finally sat out on Monday against the Rays. Hopefully, more is known about Alvarez's condition prior to Tuesday's contest.

Alvarez is dealing with neck discomfort and has been sent back to Houston to be examined, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez was absent from the lineup for Monday's game against the Rays, and it turns out that his absence is not rest but rather injury related. It's unclear at this time if Alvarez is going to need to be placed on the injured list or if he'll be available at all for the series against the Rays in Tampa Bay. For now Alvarez should be considered day-to-day, but there's just as good of chance that the 25-year-old will require a stint on the injured list at this point.

Alvarez is absent from the Astros' lineup for Monday's game against the Rays, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

It looks to be a regular day off for the slugger. Corey Julks will handle left field and Yainer Diaz will be in the designated hitter spot Monday.

Alvarez went 1-for-5 with two-run homer in Saturday's win over Atlanta.

Alvarez broke up Kyle Wright's shutout with a two-run shot in the sixth inning. It is the second night in a row Alvarez has smacked a go-ahead home run in Atlanta. The lefty slugger has driven in 25 runs in 19 games this season.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Friday against Atlanta.

Alvarez was hitless when he came to the plate in the ninth inning, but he changed that by blasting a game-winning two-run homer. He now has five long balls on the season, with this being his first since April 14. Overall, Alvarez is hitting .262./.388/.538 across 79 plate appearances on the campaign.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Friday against the Rangers.

Alvarez took Martin Perez deep in the third inning to tally his fourth homer of the season. He's also uncharacteristically punched out three times in consecutive games, bringing his strikeout rate to an inflated 25.9 percent clip. Even so, it's difficult to argue with Alvarez's production early this season, as he's hitting .295 with 18 RBI and nine runs scored across 54 plate appearances.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Houston is concluding its series in Pittsburgh with a day game after a night game, so Alvarez is most likely just getting some extra maintenance following a string of eight consecutive starts. Corey Julks will get the nod in left field in place of Alvarez, who drew a walk but also struck out a season-high three times in Tuesday's 7-4 loss.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with one double, two RBI and one run scored in Monday's victory over the Pirates.

Alvarez plated a pair of runs in the top of the second inning with a single to left field. He's tallied six RBI over his last three games and has now registered two three-hit performances through the first 10 matchups.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a grand slam Saturday against the Twins.

Alvarez came to the plate with the bases loaded in the third inning and took Joe Ryan deep to tally his third homer of the season. He now has at least one hit in seven of eight games on the campaign and has also racked up six runs scored and 14 RBI. Alvarez's injury scare during spring training hasn't affected his performance, and he should be among the elite hitters in the league assuming he can remain healthy.

Alvarez went 1-for-6 with a home run and four RBI in Monday's loss to the Tigers.

Alvarez ripped a three-run shot in the fifth inning and later added an RBI groundout in the 11th. His home run was a 435-foot, 110 mph rocket to tie the game at 4-4. The lefty slugger is 6-for-17 to start the year with three extra-base hits and 11 RBI.

Alvarez is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the White Sox, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez gets a day of rest in the early part of the year after appearing in the first three contests of the series. Corey Julks will start in left field and hit seventh, while David Hensley is slotted as the designated hitter and will hit fifth against Mike Clevinger and the White Sox.

Alvarez went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored Saturday against the White Sox.

Alvarez notched his first multi-hit effort of the season, which was highlighted by an RBI single in the eighth inning to put the Astros up by two runs. He has now knocked in at least one run in all three games this season, totaling five RBI and four runs scored.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a three-run double and a walk in Friday's victory over the White Sox.

Alvarez drilled a go-ahead, bases-clearing double in the seventh inning to lift the Astros to their first win of 2023. The star slugger has already driven in four runs with a pair of extra-base hits in two games. He's also punched out three times.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the White Sox.

Alvarez scored Houston's first run of the season in the seventh inning when he crossed the plate on a wild pitch after reaching base on a hit-by-pitch. The talented outfielder then slammed a solo homer in the ninth to bring the Astros to within a run, though the team ultimately came up short. Alvarez hit a combined 70 homers across 2021 and 2022, and he appears on his way to another big season despite playing in just two spring training games due to a left hand injury.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Thursday that Alvarez will not be an everyday player at the beginning of the season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez is pain-free and in the lineup Opening Day, but his nagging left hand issue limited him to just two Grapefruit League games this spring. This is more about just easing him back into action to be cautious. He's playing left field against the White Sox on Thursday.

Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters before Monday's exhibition against Triple-A Sugar Land, Michael Connor of Sports Talk 790 in Houston reports.

While Alvarez is scheduled to play the whole game, Baker cautions that might change because the team did not get back to Houston on Monday until after 3am. Whether he plays the full game or not, Alvarez looks like he's a full-go for the regular season which begins Thursday against the White Sox.

Alvarez went 0-for-3 in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.

Alvarez took his first at-bats of the exhibition season after dealing with a hand injury for much of camp. While he was hitless, he managed to make loud contact on a few balls that traveled deep to center field. Most importantly, Alvarez made it out of the game healthy and will turn his focus toward Opening Day.

Alvarez (hand) is in left field and batting leadoff for the Astros in Thursday's Grapefruit League game versus the Nationals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

It will be the spring debut for Alvarez, who has been slowed by nagging soreness in his left hand. He's in the leadoff spot presumably in hopes that he can get in an extra plate appearance before calling it a day. Alvarez is working with a tight window to knock the rust off, but the expectation is that he'll be ready for Opening Day.

Alvarez (hand) will make his Grapefruit League debut Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez has been out all spring while dealing with nagging soreness in his left hand, which is a similar issue he experienced in both hands at times last year. It does seem as though the Astros have been extra cautious here, but fantasy managers still must have some level of concern about Alvarez being able to hold up all season. Alvarez will have a week to knock the rust off before Opening Day but all signs point to him avoiding an injured list stint.

Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters Sunday that Alvarez (hand) could play in a Grapefruit League game next week, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Baker said that Alvarez is currently ahead of Michael Brantley (shoulder) in terms of getting into a game. The Astros have a day off Monday before playing six games in the Grapefruit League, and Baker believes that the slugger could get into action in the middle of that stretch. There are still some obstacles to climb, but there's a very good chance that Alvarez will be ready for the start of the regular season.

Alvarez (hand) will take batting practice on the field Friday for the first time this spring, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez has been hitting in the batting cage without issue for several days and is ready to test things out on the field. Assuming things go well, Alvarez should be ready to play in games soon. There's been no indication from the Astros yet that Alvarez could be in danger of not being ready for Opening Day, but we're certainly working with a tight window here.

Alvarez (hand) was able to hit soft toss in the batting cage Sunday and felt good, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez has taken swings in the cages in two of the last three days, and both times the slugger has felt fine after the session. He's recovering from soreness in his left-hand, and while the team has framed his absence from Grapefruit League precautionary, it's late enough in the spring season to grow concerned that he may not be ready to play on Opening Day. Astros manager Dusty Baker said Saturday that it's "still the plan" for Alvarez to be ready for the start of the season, however, and it's encouraging that he's feeling better swinging the bat at this stage.

Manager Dusty Baker said Saturday that it's "still the plan" for Alvarez (hand) to be ready for Opening Day, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

He took swings in the batting cage Friday and the skipper's comments suggest Alvarez emerged from that session just fine. While more hand issues are concerning after he dealt with similar injuries last season, his time away from baseball activities seems precautionary in large part -- at least that's the way the team is framing it.

Alvarez (hand) took swings in a batting cage Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

It's a big step for the slugger as he works his way back from nagging left hand soreness. A clear timetable for Alvarez hasn't been provided to this point, but there's been no indication he could be in jeopardy of missing Opening Day. Alvarez dealt with soreness in both hands off and on last season.

Alvarez (hand) is expected to resume swinging Friday or Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez has yet to swing a bat this spring, though general manager Dana Brown said he is currently pain free. Alvarez's exact timetable to resume baseball activity has been a moving target, though this latest development is a positive for the slugger's outlook. Assuming he remains on track, Alvarez is expected to be ready for Opening Day.

Alvarez (hand) is hoping to resume swinging a bat next week, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday he was hoping Alvarez would be ready to swing a bat by this weekend, but apparently it will take a little longer than that. It does not appear at this point that Alvarez had a setback, but the team clearly wants to make sure the slugger's nagging hand soreness is behind him before he ramps things up again. There's been no indication that the injury could affect Alvarez's Opening Day availability, but it's certainly an uneasy feeling seeing him miss so much time.

Alvarez (hand) is expected to resume swinging a bat "maybe by this weekend," Astros general manager Dana Brown said on the team's radio broadcast Sunday.

Alvarez has been battling nagging soreness in his left hand which has kept him from swinging a bat the last couple weeks. The slugger also dealt with soreness in both hands last season. There hasn't seemed to be any real concern regarding Alvarez's potential availability for Opening Day, but obviously it would be nice to see him take a step forward later this week.

Astros manager Dusty baker told reporters Sunday that Alvarez (hand) still hasn't resumed swinging, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez is dealing with discomfort in his left hand, and while it's been widely reported that the slugger is expected to be ready for Opening Day, it's obviously a bit concerning that he hasn't resumed swinging at this point. After a dominant 2022 campaign, the 25-year-old is deserving of a high selection in all eligible formats, but the injury concern is something managers have to be cognizant of before making the pick.

Alvarez (hand) "should definitely be back for Opening Day," Astros general manager Dana Brown told the ESPN broadcast Tuesday, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle.

"We feel totally confident that he'll be in games sometimes midway through (spring training)," Brown added. Alvarez is currently shut down from swinging a bat due to renewed soreness in his left hand similar to what he dealt with in both hands last season. While it sounds like he won't get into any Grapefruit League games for a couple weeks, it does not appear the nagging injury will prevent him from being available come Opening Day.

Manager Dusty Baker said Sunday that Alvarez (hand) has yet to start swinging a bat, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 25-year-old was plagued by soreness in both his hands last season and continues to have issues with his left hand early in spring training. It's unclear when Alvarez is expected to be cleared for swings, and he'll likely need at least a couple days of using a bat before being cleared for game action.

Alvarez (hand) is still not going through any on-field drills with the Astros, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez is experiencing renewed soreness in his left hand similar to what he dealt with last season in both hands. Manager Dusty Baker said Friday that there was no update on the slugger's progress or prognosis. It seems as if Alvarez could be back in action any day, but obviously this isn't the way he or the Astros envisioned the start of his camp going.

Alvarez is not swinging a bat due to left hand soreness, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

You might recall that Alvarez dealt with lingering soreness in both hands off and on last season, even being placed on the injured list at one point late in the year (that injury was deemed right hand inflammation). It's discouraging to hear that his hand is already bothering him again, although Alvarez expects to resume swinging a bat in a couple days.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run during Saturday night's 4-1 win over the Phillies in Game 6 of the World Series.

Alvarez hit a 450-foot blast off Jose Alvarado in the sixth inning to give the Astros a 3-1 lead, just his first homer since the ALDS but a monumental one nonetheless. The 25-year-old hit .192 across 52 at bats in the playoffs, but he managed to knock in 15 runs and help the Astros win their second World Series in the last five years. Alvarez will remain a vital piece to the heart of the Houston lineup for the foreseeable future.

Alvarez went 3-for-5 with three doubles and two runs scored in Tuesday's 10-0 win over the Phillies.

Alvarez had a productive game Tuesday, his second with multiple extra-base hits in his last five contests. While he's gone 13 games without a home run, he's racked up seven doubles, seven RBI and six runs scored in that span. The 25-year-old slugger is up to a .304/.405/.612 slash line with 37 homers, 96 RBI, 95 runs scored, 29 doubles and a stolen base through 134 contests. His 1.017 OPS ranks second in baseball behind only Aaron Judge.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored Friday against the Rays.

Alvarez missed one game due to a nagging hand injury, but he returned to extend his hitting streak to five games. Though he'll likely get some days off prior to the postseason, Alvarez is closing the regular season well by hitting .360 with 15 runs scored and 16 RBI across 22 games in September.

Alvarez (ankle) is starting Friday against the Rays.

Alvarez sat out Wednesday's series finale against the Diamondbacks due to a left ankle injury, but he'll serve as the designated hitter and bat third a day later. The 25-year-old is riding a four-game hitting streak in which he's gone 5-for-11 with two RBI, a run, four walks and four strikeouts.

Alvarez (ankle) isn't starting Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.

Alvarez exited Tuesday's win over Arizona with a left ankle injury, but he underwent X-rays that came back negative. Manager Dusty Baker said after the game that he hopes Alvarez will "be ready in a couple of days," so it's possible that he's back in action for Friday's series opener against the Rays following the Astros' scheduled day off Thursday. Chas McCormick will shift to left field while Mauricio Dubon starts in center Wednesday.

Manager Dusty Baker said X-rays on Alvarez's left ankle came back negative after the slugger exited Tuesday's win over the win over the Diamondbacks, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

He appears to have avoided a serious injury after rolling his ankle while running the bases Tuesday, and Baker hopes Alvarez will "be ready in a couple of days." The 25-year-old shouldn't be expected to be in the lineup for Wednesday's series finale versus Arizona, and he'll then have Thursday's scheduled off day to rest up ahead Friday's series opener against Tampa Bay.

Alvarez was removed from Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks with right ankle discomfort, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez hit a single and rolled his ankle while running to first base during the opening frame, but he was replaced by a pinch hitter during the fifth inning after he initially remained in the game. The severity of the injury remains unclear, but the slugger could be held out of the lineup Wednesday regardless, especially with the Astros having a scheduled day off Thursday.

Alvarez is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rays.

Alvarez is red-hot right now, hitting six homers and posting a sizzling 1.654 OPS over his last 10 games, but he will get a break a day after the Astros clinched the AL West. Aledmys Diaz will start in left field in Alvarez's place.

Alvarez went 2-for-5 with two doubles, four RBI, a run and a strikeout during Sunday's 11-2 win over Oakland.

Alvarez got a day off during Wednesday's series finale in Detroit, but he was dominant during the Astros' four-game set against Oakland by racking up seven extra-base hits over 17 at-bats. The 25-year-old has recorded extra-base hits in eight of the nine matchups during his current hitting streak, hitting .485 with six home runs, six doubles, 12 runs, 11 RBI, six walks and three strikeouts over that stretch.

Alvarez went 4-for-4 with three solo home runs Friday against the Athletics.

Alvarez took Adrian Martinez deep in three consecutive at-bats, bringing his homer total to 36 on the season. Though interrupted by some time out of the lineup, Alvarez is now riding a seven-game hitting streak, during which he's hit .542 with five homers, six RBI and 10 runs scored. He's had a stellar campaign overall, maintaining a 1.032 OPS across 502 plate appearances.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored Thursday against the Athletics.

Alvarez was held out of the lineup Wednesday, likely due to lingering soreness in his hand. However, he returned to the lineup in strong form and delivered an RBI double in the third inning. Alvarez is now riding a six-game hitting streak during which he's hit .450 with three RBI and seven runs scored. For the campaign, he's hitting .295/.403/.598 across 494 plate appearances.

Alvarez (hand) is starting Thursday against the Athletics.

Alvarez dealt with hand soreness Wednesday and didn't appear in Houston's win over the Tigers, but he'll start in left field and bat third a day later. He's recorded hits in each of his last five games and has posted a 1.069 OPS with two home runs, three doubles, six runs, two RBI, six walks and two strikeouts during that time.

Alvarez said after Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Tigers that his absence from the lineup was for maintenance purposes rather than due to any recurring hand soreness, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Prior to the game, manager Dusty Baker alluded to Alvarez's absence being the result of soreness, but the 25-year-old slugger was adamant that his health wasn't an issue. Alvarez noted that he was available off the bench if needed, but Mauricio Dubon was the only reserve position player who saw action in the series finale. While it's good news that Alvarez seemed to push back at the notion that his hand soreness has cropped up again, fantasy managers will still want to see him re-enter the lineup Thursday against the Athletics to get some peace of mind.

Alvarez isn't starting Wednesday against the Tigers as a precautionary measure because he's dealing with a sore hand, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Manager Dusty Baker didn't sound too concerned about Alvarez's hand injury and said that the 25-year-old will need to manage the issue over the final few weeks of the season. Trey Mancini is starting in left field and batting sixth Wednesday, while Alvarez should be considered day-to-day for now.

Alvarez isn't in the lineup Wednesday against Detroit, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez has been dominant recently, going 7-for-16 with two home runs, three doubles, six runs, two RBI, six walks and two strikeouts over the last five games. He'll get a breather while Trey Mancini starts in left field and bats sixth.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double, a walk and three runs scored Tuesday against the Tigers.

Alvarez took Drew Hutchison yard in the opening inning and tallied his double two frames later. After failing to homer in 21 consecutive starts, Alvarez now was two long balls in his last three games. He's also riding a modest five-game hitting streak, during which he's hit .438 with six runs scored. On the campaign, Alvarez has 33 homers while maintaining a .295/.403/.598 line across 494 plate appearances.

Alvarez went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Sunday's win over the Angels.

With a solo shot in the eighth inning, Alvarez snapped a 21-game homerless drought. The long ball was the 25-year-old's 32nd on the season, just one shy of the career-high of 33 he set in 2021. Alvarez is slashing .291/.399/.590 in 116 games this season.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a walk and two RBI on Sunday against the Angels.

Alvarez returned to the lineup for the first time in the last five games due to a hand injury. He made the most of his one knock, driving in a pair on a single in the ninth inning. Despite battling some nagging injuries, Alvarez has maintained a .416 wOBA and 178 wRC+ across 457 plate appearances for the season.

Alvarez (hand) is starting in left field and batting third Sunday against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez hasn't seen the field since Aug. 27 due to hand soreness, but he'll return to action in Sunday's series finale versus the Halos. The 25-year-old struggled while playing through the injury in August and had a .234/.326/.312 slash line with one home run, three doubles, 10 RBI and 11 runs in 23 games.

Alvarez (hand) hit in the cage Saturday and could return Sunday against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez hasn't played in a week due to hand soreness. He was initially listed in Friday's lineup but got scratched, and he wasn't deemed ready to return Saturday, either. He reportedly felt good in the cage, however, which bodes well for a Sunday return.

Alvarez (hand) remains on the bench for Saturday's game against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez hasn't started since last Saturday due to hand soreness. He was listed in Friday's lineup but wound up getting scratched, and he's evidently still not ready a day later. J.J. Matijevic will be the designated hitter in his absence.

Alvarez was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Angels due to hand discomfort, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez was initially slated to serve as the designated hitter for Friday's matchup, but he's still dealing with his hand injury and will be out of the lineup for a fourth consecutive game. It's not yet clear who will replace him in Friday's lineup.

Alvarez (hand) is in the Astros' lineup Friday and will serve as the designated hitter, batting third against the Angels.

Alvarez missed three consecutive games while battling left-hand soreness, but will make his return in Friday's series opener in Los Angeles. The Astros' young star has been stuck in a cold spell lately with a .638 OPS since August 1.

Alvarez (hand), who is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers, said he "100 percent" expects to return to the starting nine Friday versus the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Though his sore left hand will keep him on the bench for a third straight game, Alvarez doesn't believe his injury is as significant as his bout with right hand inflammation back in July, which forced him to the 10-day injured list shortly before the All-Star break. It's unclear if he'll be available off Wednesday in a pinch-hitting capacity, but the extra day off to go along with Thursday's team off day looks like it might provide sufficient time for Alvarez to recover from the injury.

Alvarez (hand) isn't starting Wednesday against the Rangers.

Alvarez is excluded from the starting nine for a third consecutive game due to left hand soreness. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench, but Trey Mancini will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth.

Alvarez (hand) isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers.

Left hand soreness is sidelining Alvarez for the second straight game, and it's unclear how soon he'll be re-entering the lineup. J.J. Matajevic is the designated hitter Tuesday.

Alvarez is dealing with right hand soreness and is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus Baltimore, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 25-year-old admitted after Saturday's contest that the right hand injury which put him on the injured list ahead of the All-Star break remains bothersome, which helps explain his recent lack of power, as he has only four extra-base hits since the start of August. Stepping out of the lineup Sunday will give Alvarez two full days off since Houston has a scheduled day off Monday, though it's unclear if the team plans to give him any additional rest beyond that this week.

Alvarez (illness) will serve as Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle Sunday in Atlanta.

Alvarez suffered a medical scare Friday, when he abruptly experienced shortness of breath and described his condition as being worsened by the smoke from the fireworks at Truist Park that went off earlier in the game. After he was briefly hospitalized as a precaution, Alvarez was discharged when his tests returned normal. The Astros still opted to give Alvarez the day off in Saturday's 5-4 loss, but he feels well enough to step back into the lineup for the series finale.

Alvarez (illness) could be back in the lineup Sunday against Atlanta, Ethan Sands of MLB.com reports.

The Astros will wait another day to evaluate Alvarez after his tests came back normal at the hospital Friday. Trey Mancini will operate as the designated hitter while Alvarez is sidelined.

Alvarez's tests at the hospital Friday night came back normal and he will undergo further evaluation Saturday at the ballpark.

He is not in Saturday's lineup and had to leave Friday's game after feeling ill on the field. Alvarez was released from the hospital Friday night and it's a good sign that he's at the ballpark the next day. Trey Mancini is starting at designated hitter in place of Alvarez.

Alvarez (illness) is not in Saturday's lineup against Atlanta, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

He left Friday's game because he was feeling ill on the field and was transported to a local hospital to be evaluated. Alvarez's status will be updated when the team provides more information. Trey Mancini is the designated hitter Saturday.

Alvarez was removed from Friday's game in Atlanta since he was feeling ill on the field, and he was transported to a local hospital to be evaluated, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez abruptly left the field with Atlanta up to bat during the fifth inning, so it makes sense he's dealing with an illness rather than an injury. It's unclear if the ailment will affect the slugger's availability for the remaining two games of the series.

Alvarez was removed from Friday's game against Atlanta with an apparent injury, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 25-year-old struck out in both plate appearances before coming to the plate during the sixth inning, and he was replaced by Mauricio Dubon in the middle of the at-bat. Alvarez should be considered day-to-day until more information is available on the situation.

Alvarez is not in the starting lineup Thursday against the Rangers.

Alvarez will get a breather as he's in the middle of a cold stretch from the plate, batting .146 with two extra-base hits over his last 11 games. Trey Mancini will take over at designated hitter and bat sixth in the series finale.

Alvarez went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Rangers.

Though Alvarez hasn't reported any renewed soreness in his hand after he required a stint on the injured list shortly before the All-Star break, the slugger has nonetheless seen his production taper off of late. While starting in each of Houston's last 10 games, Alvarez has hit .139 with one extra-base hit (a double) and 5:9 BB:K. The Astros will continue to let Alvarez work through his struggles, as he'll stick in the lineup Wednesday as the team's designated hitter and No. 3 batter.

Alvarez went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, an RBI single, two walks and an additional run scored in an 11-1 win over the Mariners on Friday.

Alvarez continued his MVP-caliber season, reaching base five times and going deep for his 30th home run of the season to power the Astros over their surging division rivals. Alvarez leads all of MLB with a superb .423 OBP. The 25-year-old left-handed power bat now has 69 RBI and an OPS of 1.110.

Alvarez went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks in a 4-2 loss to the Athletics on Wednesday.

Alvarez turned on a 90 mph fastball that Cole Irvin left on the inner half of the plate for his 29th home run and 67th RBI of the season. The line drive blast was complimented by two walks and Alvarez now has a .413 OBP to go along with a .674 SLG. The elite 25-year-old slugger has reached base in seven straight games.

Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk an RBI and a run scored Tuesday against the Athletics.

Alvarez started his second consecutive game since missing Sunday's contest due to a nagging hand injury. He played a role in the team's fourth-inning rally with an RBI double prior to coming around to score. Alvarez may sit a bit more often if his hand continues to bother him, but it hasn't affected his performance as he's hit five home runs while tallying 10 RBI and 14 runs scored across 14 games in July.

Alvarez (hand) is in the lineup for Monday's game against the A's.

A sore right hand prevented Alvarez from starting Sunday's game, but it will not cost him any further action. He will serve as the designated hitter and hit third in Houston's batting order.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners due to soreness in his right hand, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 25-year-old was activated from the injured list Thursday and started the previous three games, but he's being held out Sunday due to lingering soreness in his right hand. Alvarez is likely to continue having his workload managed since he can't fully get past the hand injury, though it has yet to affect his effectiveness given he's posted a 1.105 OPS in July.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez sat out Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader but started the past three contests and went 3-for-9 with a double, two homers, two walks, five RBI and four runs. There's been no indication the 25-year-old has aggravated his hand injury, so he's likely just receiving a maintenance day in the series finale. Kyle Tucker will rest his legs as the designated hitter while Chas McCormick starts in right field.

Alvarez went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, a sacrifice fly and a walk in Friday's 5-2 win over the Mariners.

Alvarez has homered in both games since he returned from a hand injury that sidelined him heading into the All-Star break. Per Statcast, Alvarez's 414-foot solo shot in the fourth inning was the hardest-hit ball of the contest with an exit velocity of 108.2 mph. The 25-year-old continues to be one of the best hitters in baseball with a .310/.409/.675 slash line, 28 long balls, 65 RBI, 60 runs scored, 12 doubles and two triples through 325 plate appearances.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, three RBI and two runs scored in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Yankees.

Alvarez was in the starting lineup as the designated hitter after being activated from the injured list earlier Thursday. He took Domingo German yard in the first inning and also drove in two with a double in the second frame. It doesn't appear that the hand injury that forced Alvarez to miss the team's previous seven games will hamper his performance moving forward. For the season, he owns an excellent .309/.408/.665 line with 27 home runs, 59 runs scored and 63 RBI across 321 plate appearances.

Alvarez (hand) will serve as Houston's designated hitter and No. 3 batter in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Yankees, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Houston activated Alvarez from the 10-day injured list prior to Game 1, but he was withheld from the lineup for the early contest, as manager Dusty Baker understandably wasn't keen on having the team's top hitter play 18 innings in one day in his first game back from an injury. Alvarez still made a cameo off the bench as a pinch hitter in the Astros' 3-2 win in Game 1, walking in his lone plate appearance. As expected, he'll now re-enter the lineup for what will be his first start since July 9.

Alvarez (hand) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Thursday, but he'll be on the bench for the first game of the Astros' doubleheader with the Yankees.

Manager Dusty Baker will roll with Chas McCormick as the team's designated hitter and Aledmys Diaz as the team's left fielder in Game 1, but Alvarez is fully expected to rejoin the lineup for the nightcap at one of those two positions, per Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle. The doubleheader marks the start of a stretch of 19 games in 18 days for the Astros, so it wouldn't be surprising if Alvarez rests one at least one more occasion in the next two and a half weeks, even if his right hand doesn't present any issues.

The Astros reinstated Alvarez (hand) from the 10-day injured list ahead of the first game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Yankees, Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston reports.

Houston optioned outfielder Jose Siri to Triple-A Sugar Land to clear room on the 26-man active roster for Alvarez, who ended up spending the minimum amount of time on the IL due to right hand inflammation. Since Houston is opening its second-half schedule with 19 games in 18 days, Alvarez will be a candidate to rest at least once or twice during that stretch, but he'll otherwise be a fixture in the everyday lineup if his hand provides him no further complications. Before hitting the shelf and having to miss the All-Star Game as a result of the injury, Alvarez hit .306 with 26 home runs, 60 RBI and 57 runs in 75 games.

Astros general manager James Click said he expects Alvarez (hand) to be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Thursday's doubleheader with the Yankees, Adam Wexler of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.

Click noted that Alvarez will hit on the field at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, and if his inflamed right hand responds well to the activity, the slugger could also take part in some defensive drills. Alvarez missed the Astros' final seven games before the All-Star break due to the injury and was forced to withdraw from the Midsummer Classic.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Alvarez (hand) will do some hitting Sunday for the first time since landing on the injured list a week ago, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez's inflamed right hand will prevent him from partaking in All-Star festivities during the upcoming week, so rather than heading to Los Angeles for the Midsummer Classic, the 25-year-old slugger will remain in Houston to receive treatment. Baker said that he's hopeful to have Alvarez available for the Astros' doubleheader with the Yankees on Thursday to open the team's second-half slate, but Alvarez's availability for either contest will hinge on how his hand responds to hitting activities over the next few days.

Alvarez (hand) was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Alvarez missed some time with a right hand injury in mid-June and quickly returned to the lineup, but the issue has apparently worsened over the past few weeks. The 25-year-old's move to the injured list Sunday means he will be eligible to return coming out of the All-Star break July 21, though it remains to be seen if he's healthy enough to be reinstated at that point. J.J. Matijevic and Aledmys Diaz are the likely candidates to see increased playing time during Alvarez's absence.

Alvarez is out of the lineup Sunday against Oakland and headed back to Houston since his previously injured right hand is bothering him again, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez won't just miss Sunday's game, but also the next three games in Anaheim against the Angels. The Astros hope to have Alvarez back later in the week against the A's, but keep in mind that the All-Star break is immediately after that series, so there's a risk of him missing the entire week.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Oakland.

Alvarez started the past eight games after missing two contests with a head injury, and he'll take Sunday off after posting a .964 OPS with three doubles, three home runs, four RBI and eight runs during that stretch. Aledmys Diaz will serve as Houston's designated hitter in the series finale.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Thursday's 5-2 victory over Kansas City.

Alvarez gave the Astros a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning with a solo blast off Royals starter Kris Bubic. During his current five-game hitting streak, the lefty has slashed .316/.435/.895 with three homers and two doubles.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional run scored and a walk in Tuesday's 9-7 win over the Royals.

Alvarez has homered in consecutive games, and he's gone yard eight times in his last 14 contests. His blast Tuesday provided the Astros' last run in the win. He's up to 25 long balls this year with 58 RBI, 53 runs scored, nine doubles and a .313/.413/.663 slash line through 298 plate appearances. Alvarez is tied for second in the majors in homers with the Phillies' Kyle Schwarber, four back of the Yankees' Aaron Judge for the major-league lead.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with two walks, a solo home run and a second run scored in Monday's 7-6 win over the Royals.

Kansas City worked around Alvarez most of the game, but Scott Barlow gave him a hittable pitch when it mattered most, and the 25-year-old launched it into the seats in right-center field to break a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the ninth inning. Alvarez has been locked in since mid-June despite missing a few games during that stretch due to minor injuries, slashing .306/.444/.833 over his last 11 contests with six homers, 10 RBI and 10 runs.

Alvarez went 0-for-4 with a walk Saturday against the Angels.

Alvarez returned to the lineup after missing two games due to a head injury. He hit third in the order for his third consecutive start, recently swapping spots in the order with Alex Bregman. Though he wasn't particularly productive Saturday, Alvarez has maintained a tremendous .311/.408/.647 line across 284 plate appearances on the season.

Alvarez (head) is starting Saturday's game against the Angels.

Alvarez missed the last two games after sustaining a head injury during a collision Wednesday, but he'll serve as the designated hitter and bat third Saturday. Over his last eight games, he's slashed .360/.484/.960 with five homers, nine RBI and eight runs.

Alvarez (head) remains out of the lineup Friday against the Angels, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Jeremy Pena, meanwhile, is back in the lineup after the collision with Alvarez on Wednesday. Clearly Alvarez is worse off than Pena, but there is still little clarity on Alvarez's condition. Alvarez remains day-to-day and on the active roster at this time.

Alvarez (head) is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's contest against the Yankees.

Alvarez collided with Jeremy Pena (mouth) in left field in Wednesday's contest and was forced out of the game following multiple minutes on the ground. It's unclear whether he suffered a concussion or not, but he will be unavailable Thursday. J.J. Matijevic will get the start at designated hitter and bat sixth in the series finale.

Alvarez is being evaluated for a concussion after exiting Wednesday's game against the Mets, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 25-year-old was involved in a collision in left field Wednesday and was struck in the face by Jeremy Pena's arm. Alvarez remained down for several minutes after the incident but was able to walk to the cart that took him off the field. He'll travel with the team back to Houston, but his availability for the weekend series against the Yankees will depend on whether he's ultimately diagnosed with a concussion.

Alvarez was removed in the eighth inning of Wednesday's game against the Mets after he was involved in a collision with teammate Jeremy Pena in the outfield, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. He went 0-for-3 with a walk before departing the contest.

Alvarez appeared to absorb the brunt of the collision with Pena, who was also removed from the game but was able to walk off the field under his own power. Meanwhile, the Astros called out a cart for Alvarez, who was also able to stand up and walk to the vehicle before he was driven to the locker room. The exact nature and severity of the injuries to Alvarez and Pena isn't immediately clear, but manager Dusty Baker should have an update on both players' situations following the game.

Alvarez went 3-for-3 with two walks, a two-run home run and two runs scored Tuesday against the Mets.

Alvarez returned from a one-game absence caused by a minor nagging hand injury. He looked healthy at the plate, first singling in the opening inning. Four frames later, he launched his 23rd home of the season and sixth in his last eight starts. Alvarez has had an incredible campaign through 66 games, maintaining a .453 wOBA and 205 wRC+.

Alvarez (hand) will serve as Houston's designated hitter and No. 3 batter in Tuesday's game against the Mets.

Per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle, manager Dusty Baker said Alvarez was held out of the lineup for Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Yankees due to lingering soreness in his hand, but his absence always looked to be little more than a routine maintenance day. Baker said Alvarez was available Sunday in a pinch-hitting capacity, and the 25-year-old proceeded to come off the bench and draw a walk. As anticipated, Alvarez experienced no setbacks following his brief cameo Sunday and should be ready for a full slate of starts this week following Monday's team off day.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.

Heading into the week, Alvarez's status was in question after he picked up a hand injury in a July 18 loss to the White Sox, but he returned from a one-game absence to start in each of the Astros' subsequent five contests while going 6-for-19 with four home runs, seven RBI and six runs. The 24-year-old will temporarily put his bid for American League MVP Award on the back burner Sunday while he hits the bench in what looks to be a routine maintenance day.

Alvarez went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 7-6 loss to the Yankees.

Alvarez went deep in the third inning to give the Astros a 6-3 lead, though it wasn't quite enough in the end. With four homers in three games since he returned from a minor hand injury, the 24-year-old is pounding the ball once again and showing no signs of slowing down in the middle of the campaign. He's up to 22 long balls, 54 RBI, 46 runs scored, eight doubles and a .317/.406/.665 slash line in 62 contests overall.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs during Wednesday's 5-3 win against the Mets.

The 24-year-old went back-to-back with Alex Bregman during the opening frame, and Alvarez followed with another solo shot during the third inning. He leads all of baseball with a 1.064 OPS and now has 21 home runs and 51 RBI for the season. Alvarez has especially been flexing his power lately with four long balls in his past four games.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, an additional run scored and a walk in Tuesday's 8-2 win over the Mets.

Alvarez missed one game with the hand injury, but it didn't appear to be much of a factor Tuesday. His third-inning blast ultimately gave the Astros enough offense to win. The slugger is up to 19 homers, 49 RBI, 43 runs scored, eight doubles and two triples through 252 plate appearances while maintaining a fantastic .312/405/.633 slash line.

Alvarez (hand) will serve as Houston's designated hitter and cleanup batter in Tuesday's game against the Mets.

Though manager Dusty Baker was evasive over the weekend when asked about why Alvarez was out of the lineup for Sunday's 4-3 win over the White Sox, the slugger looks like he's good to go for the series opener with the Mets coming out of Monday's off day. Even after seeing a five-game RBI streak come to an end with an 0-for-3 day at the plate in his last start Saturday, Alvarez maintains a lofty 1.026 OPS coming into Tuesday's contest.

Astros manager Dusty Baker acknowledged that Alvarez is being held out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox due to a hand injury, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Baker didn't say whether the injury is to Alvarez's throwing (right) hand or the opposite one, but the skipper noted that the team doesn't believe it's a serious concern. With Alvarez on the bench for the series finale, J.J. Matijevic will start at designated hitter and bat sixth.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox due to an unspecified injury, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 24-year-old was removed from Saturday's contest after suffering the injury on a swing during the seventh inning, though the specifics of the issue remain unclear. Alvarez will be sidelined for at least one game, and he'll have the benefit of additional rest Monday since the Astros have a scheduled off day. J.J. Matijevic will bat sixth as the designated hitter Sunday for Houston.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, an RBI single and an additional run scored in Friday's win over the White Sox.

Alvarez's sixth-inning homer sent Alex Bregman home and was the fourth of five home runs for the Astros on Friday. It was the outfielder's 18th home run of the season, tied for fourth best in baseball. Alvarez has been impressive this month, with a hit in 11 of 14 games, including eight with multiple hits, good for a .471 June batting average and a 1.372 OPS.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored Wednesday against the Rangers.

Alvarez did his damage early, driving in a pair with a bases-loaded double. Though he hasn't homered in his last seven appearances -- a notable drought given that he has gone yard 17 times in 57 games to begin the campaign -- Alvarez has nine RBI and two runs scored in that span. Overall, Alvarez has maintained a 192 wRC+ and .434 wOBA across 241 plate appearances on the season.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Sunday's 9-4 win over the Marlins.

Alvarez delivered an RBI single in the fourth inning and a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Through 10 games in June, the designated hitter has already posted five three-hit efforts, picking right up where he left off after ending May strong. The 24-year-old is up to a .311/.402/.628 slash line with 17 home runs, 41 RBI, 38 runs scored, seven doubles and two triples through 54 contests. His 1.030 OPS is just 37 points shy of his career-best mark from his rookie year, though it remains to be seen if he can push it even higher in 2022.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with one double, two RBI and one run scored during Wednesday's loss to Seattle.

Alvarez notched his sixth three-hit game of the season and finished with multiple RBI for a second consecutive contest. Across 51 games, the lefty slugger is slashing .299/.395/.630 with 17 home runs and 38 RBI.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk and two runs in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Mariners.

Alvarez walked and scored in the fourth frame before later launching a two-run homer off Ryan Borucki in the bottom of the eighth inning. The long ball was his 17th of the year and third in his last five games. The 24-year-old has now notched at least one hit in eight of his last nine contests, going 16-for-34 with five homers, 11 RBI and 10 runs over that stretch. Alvarez is now batting .289 with 17 home runs, 36 RBI and 37 runs over 180 at-bats in 50 games this season.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a triple and three runs scored in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Royals.

Alvarez continues to rack up hits at a rapid rate -- he's 17-for-35 (.486) in his last nine games with six extra-base hits in that span. He came up a double shy of the cycle Sunday, which was his second three-hit effort in his last three games. For the season, he's batting .295 with a 1.015 OPS while adding 16 homers, 34 RBI, 35 runs scored, five doubles and two triples through 201 plate appearances.

Alvarez went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 10-3 win over the Royals.

Fresh off of signing a record contract (six years, $115 million) for a designated hitter earlier Friday, Alvarez showed why the Astros would commit to him. He delivered his 15th homer of the year in the fifth inning off Royals starter Brady Singer. Alvarez is red-hot right now with multiple hits in six of his last seven games, going 13-for-29 (.448) in that span. He's up to a .281/.373/.593 slash line with 33 RBI, 32 runs scored, five doubles and a triple in 46 contests. The 24-year-old should continue to be a steady presence in the heart of the Astros' order for years to come.

Alvarez signed a six-year, $115 million contract extension with the Astros on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Alvarez's contract is the largest ever for a designated hitter, and it'll keep him under contract with the Astros through the 2028 season. The 24-year-old has remained effective early in 2022, slashing .272/.367/.574 with 14 home runs, 31 RBI and 30 runs.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the A's.

His bases-loaded double in the top of the ninth inning proved to be the game-winning hit. Alvarez has reeled off multiple hits in four straight games and five of the last six, boosting his slash line on the season to .272/.367/.574 with 14 homers, 30 runs and 31 RBI in 45 contests.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Monday's 5-1 win over the Athletics.

Alvarez took Paul Blackburn deep in the first inning to give the Astros an early 1-0 lead before later launching another solo shot in the eighth frame off A.J. Puk. He now has 14 homers on the season and the two long balls ended a 10-game homerless streak for the slugger. Alvarez has notched three multi-hit games over his last four contests, raising his batting average from .246 to .260 over that stretch.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with an RBI on Sunday against the Mariners.

Alvarez broke a tie at one in the eighth inning by lining an RBI single to the opposite field. Despite the solid performance, Alvarez hasn't homered since May 17, and he has only two extra-base hits across 34 at-bats in that span. Even so, it's hard to be too worried about Alvarez's production given that he has a .381 wOBA and 158 wRC+ across 175 plate appearances on the campaign.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI on Tuesday against the Guardians.

Alvarez delivered an RBI single in the fifth inning and came around to score in the same frame. He's hit just .167 across his last 10 games but has still driven in four and scored five runs in that span. Overall, Alvarez has maintained a 164 wRC+ with 12 home runs, 26 runs scored and 25 RBI across 159 plate appearances.

Alvarez will sit Friday against the Rangers.

Alvarez finds himself on the bench for the first time in over a month. He's having a strong season at the plate, hitting .2488/.357/.570 with 12 homers, though he's gone hitless in five of his last six games, so a day off would probably do him some good. Michael Brantley will rest his legs as the designated hitter in his absence, with Chas McCormick starting in left.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and three runs scored Tuesday against the Red Sox.

Alvarez led off the second inning with his 12th home run of the season. He now has three multi-hit games in his last seven starts while driving in six and scoring eight runs. Alvarez has maintained a strong .259/.360/.595 line across 136 plate appearances to begin the campaign.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's win over the Nationals.

Alvarez singled and scored as part of the Astros' five-run rally in the first inning and extended the lead to six with a solo shot in the top of the third inning. He's riding a streak of three consecutive multi-hit games and now has 11 homers on the season to go along with a .280/.381/.640 slash line.

Alvarez went 3-for-5 with two home runs, a double, and three RBI in a 5-0 win Thursday in Minnesota.

Alvarez took Josh Winder deep with a two-run shot in the third inning and gave Houston an insurance run with his ninth-inning solo blast. The designated hitter had been hitless in his previous four ball games, going 0-for-11 with five walks. As impressive as his 10 home runs and .992 OPS are, Alvarez's 17:20 BB:K ratio through 109 plate appearances represents a dramatic improvement over his career rate.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run in Tuesday's 4-0 victory over the Mariners.

Alvarez launched a 435-foot bomb to center off Seattle starter Chris Flexen in the fourth inning and walked and scored in the sixth. The 24-year-old has been on a power surge of late with four home runs in his last five games to put him one off the MLB lead with eight and has bumped his slugging from .510 to .647 in the process.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Monday's 3-0 win over Seattle.

Alvarez kicked off the scoring for Houston in the fourth inning with a solo shot to right field. The long ball was his third in his past four games and pushed his total on the season to seven, tied for fourth in the league. Alvarez has collected at least one hit in eight of his past nine contests and is slashing .375/.474/.781 over that stretch.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a home run and a walk in Saturday's loss to the Blue Jays.

Alvarez owned a .698 OPS at the end of play on Apr. 23, but with him going 11-for-25 (.440) with three homers, a double and five walks in the seven games he has appeared in since, his OPS now sits at a robust .994.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, three runs scored and a walk in Friday's 11-7 win over Toronto.

Alvarez's impressive day got started with an RBI single and a run scored in the third inning. He then drilled a two-run homer off of Trevor Richards in the sixth before scoring a third run in the eighth. After beginning the year in a 5-for-33 slump, Alvarez is 10-for-23 (.435) with six runs scored over his last six games.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored Wednesday against the Rangers.

Alvarez extended his hitting streak to a modest four games, with each of the last two being multi-hit efforts. He also scored his eighth run of the season after coming home on a bases-clearing double by Tucker in the fifth frame. While it hasn't always led to surface stats in the early going, Alvarez has gotten off to an excellent start to the campaign from a skills perspective by maintaining a .376 wOBA while striking out at only a 14.8 percent clip.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Monday against the Rangers.

Alvarez took Dane Dunning yard to lead off the second inning for his fourth home run of the season. Besides his power production, Alvarez has had a quiet start to the season, collecting only seven total hits across 46 plate appearances. Positively, Alvarez has hit the ball hard as he's maintained a 14.3 percent barrel rate. He's also made plenty of contact -- he's striking out only 15.2 percent of the time -- so more positive results should be on the horizon.

Alvarez went 3-for-5 with two home runs, four RBI and three runs scored in Monday's 8-3 win over the Angels.

Making his first appearance since April 10 after landing on the COVID-19 list, Alvarez wasted no time making an impact, crushing a two-run homer in the first inning off Michael Lorenzen. He later singled and scored in the fourth before hammering another two-run shot in the seventh. The lefty slugger hadn't gone deep since Opening Day and he's now slashing .263/.364/.789 with six RBI.

Alvarez (illness) is starting Monday's game against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez missed several days due to the league's COVID-19 protocols, but he reportedly didn't test positive for the virus. He rejoined the team Saturday and has now been reinstated from the COVID-19 IL prior to Monday's series opener against the Angels. In his first four appearances of the season, Alvarez went 2-for-14 with a home run, a double, two runs, two RBI and three walks.

Alvarez (illness) said he expects to be activated from the COVID-19 injured list to play Monday against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez has been sidelined the past few days due to the COVID-19 protocols, but he rejoined the team Saturday and should be back on the field for Monday's contest. The 24-year-old apparently dealt with a fever four consecutive days, though he's now apparently recovered and on the cusp of returning to action.

Alvarez (illness) worked out with his teammates prior to Saturday's game in Seattle but has not been activated off the COVID-19 injured list, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez had remained away from the park for the past several days while battling an illness and was eventually placed on the COVID-19 injured list due to coronavirus-like symptoms, though he reportedly didn't test positive for the virus. The fact that he's back with his teammates Saturday is a sign that he's feeling much better, though it's yet to be confirmed when he'll return to the roster.

Alvarez, who was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday, is not dealing with COVID-19, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The COVID-specific injured list can be used if a player is merely exhibiting coronavirus symptoms, which appears to be the case with Alvarez. The Astros believe he's dealing with a different ailment and could be back as soon as Saturday.

Alvarez was placed on the COVID-19 injured list due to health and safety protocols Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez has been dealing with an unspecified illness since at least Tuesday. If it turns out that he's tested positive for COVID-19, he could miss over a week, though he can also be placed on the injured list merely due to COVID-like symptoms or due to contact tracing. Joe Perez was recalled to take his place on the roster.

Alvarez (illness) remains out of action Friday against Seattle, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez hasn't played since Sunday while battling an illness. Michael Brantley will again serve as the designated hitter Friday, with Chas McCormick in left field and Jose Siri in center.

Alvarez (illness) isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Alvarez was unavailable Tuesday due to an illness and will remain out of the lineup for a second straight day. Whether he's available off the bench remains to be seen, but Michael Brantley will serve as the designated hitter while Aledmys Diaz starts in left field.

Manager Dusty Baker said Alvarez is feeling under the weather and isn't at the park for Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Astros are also missing a few coaches due to the ailment going around the clubhouse. Alvarez should be considered day-to-day, and it's unclear whether he'll be back with the team for Wednesday's series finale in Arizona.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Alvarez is 2-for-14 with one home run and two RBI to begin the season and will receive his first day off in Arizona. Aledmys Diaz will serve as Houston's designated hitter in his place Tuesday.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Thursday's win over the Angels.

Alvarez served as the designated hitter and hit fourth in the lineup for the team's opening game of the 2022 season. He delivered his first home run of the new campaign in the eighth inning, going back-to-back with Alex Bregman. Alvarez is looking to build off his strong 2021 results, when he blasted 33 homers while hitting .277.

Alvarez (personal) will serve as Houston's designated hitter and No. 4 batter in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez was scratched from Sunday's spring lineup due to a personal issue, but the matter apparently won't keep him away from the Astros for more than a day. The 24-year-old slugger has logged just five at-bats in spring games thus far, but he still has plenty of time to get in the reps he needs to prepare himself for Opening Day.

Alvarez was scratched from Sunday's Grapefruit League lineup due to a personal matter, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez was penciled in to start in left field but will instead step away from the team, and it's unclear when he'll retake the field. Kyle Tucker will shift to left field in his place while Lewis Brinson enters the lineup in right.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a triple, a run, a walk and a strikeout in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to Atlanta in Game 1 of the World Series.

Alvarez closed out the ALCS with five extra-base hits across the final two games, and his power surge continued with his triple to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning Tuesday. Since the start of the postseason, the 24-year-old has slashed .432/.532/.811 with two home runs, two triples, four doubles, 12 runs and nine RBI.

Alvarez went 4-for-4 with a triple, two doubles, two runs and an RBI in Friday's 5-0 win over the Red Sox in Game 6 of the ALCS.

Alvarez came within a home run of hitting for the cycle in Friday's matchup, and his three extra-base hits sparked Houston's offense against the Red Sox. Heading into the World Series, the 24-year-old has gone 9-for-13 with a home run, a triple, three doubles, five runs and five RBI across the last three games.

Alvarez went 3-for-5 with a homer, three RBI and a pair of runs scored in Wednesday's ALCS Game 5 win over the Red Sox.

Alvarez got the scoring started in the second inning with a solo shot off lefty Chris Sale. He bested Sale again in the sixth inning with a two-run double. The strong performance against a southpaw should perhaps come as no surprise, as Alvarez owns an identical 153 wRC+ against both lefties and righties thus far in his career. After struggling to a 79 wRC+ in his first taste of playoff baseball as a rookie back in 2019, he now owns a 204 wRC+ through nine postseason games this year.

Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two RBI, two runs scored, a double and a walk in Game 1 of the ALDS against the White Sox on Thursday.

Alvarez clubbed an RBI double in the third inning to put the Astros up 3-0. He followed that up with a leadoff home run in the fifth frame to provide insurance in what ultimately ended up being a convincing victory for Houston. Alvarez hadn't experienced an overwhelming amount off success in the postseason entering entering Thursday's game, as he had hit just .241/.323/.345 across 65 plate appearances.

Alvarez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

It appears to be a regular day off for Alvarez, who went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI on Saturday. Jake Meyers is the designated hitter Sunday.

Alvarez (soreness) is starting Friday's game against the Athletics, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez missed Thursday's series finale against the Angels due to "overall body soreness," but he's feeling better Friday. The 24-year-old will serve as the designated hitter and bat fourth.

Alvarez (soreness) isn't starting Thursday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez was replaced in the eighth inning of Wednesday's win over the Angels due to soreness, and he'll get a day to rest in Thursday's series finale. Whether he's available off the bench remains to be seen, but Kyle Tucker will serve as the designated hitter while Jose Siri starts in right field.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two total runs and three total RBI in Wednesday's 9-5 win over the Angels. He was replaced in the field in the eighth inning due to soreness, per Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston.

Playing left field and batting third in the order, Alvarez produced two big hits for Houston in the victory, launching a 456-foot two-run homer in the first inning and doubling in another run in the eighth. However, he was replaced in the bottom of the eighth frame with the score tied 5-5, and Astros manager Dusty Baker said after the game that Alvarez was "sore." It's unclear if this will be a multi-game injury, though Baker stated that Alvarez "probably won't play tomorrow" following the extra-innings win.

Alvarez started in left field and went 1-for-5 wit a two-run home run in Saturday's 6-4 extra-inning loss to Arizona.

The Astros are growing more comfortable using Alvarez in the field and have a need in left with Michael Brantley (knee) unavailable. His balky knees primarily limits him to designated hitter, but Alvarez has made a career-high 33 starts in left field this season. The home run was his 31st, and the slugger is just two RBI short of 100.

Alvarez is not in the starting lineup Friday against Arizona, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

He'll get his first day off since missing the Sept. 5 game against the Padres with a knee injury. Marwin Gonzalez will handle the DH duties and bat sixth Friday.

Alvarez increased his pre-game workouts at first base over recent days, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez typical pre-game routine involves taking groundballs at first base, but the level of the activity increased and he's nearing the point of playing in a game. Houston manager Dusty Baker wanted to put him there in a game last week -- during last week's blowout 11-2 win over the Mariners -- but Alvarez felt he wasn't ready yet. "We feel he can do it, just in the future. He's been working there a lot," Baker said. First base is not foreign to Alvarez, who made 39 starts there in the minors.

Alvarez 2-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI, four runs and a walk in Monday's win over the Rangers.

The 24-year-old took Wes Benjamin deep in the second inning with Jose Altuve on base and then hit a solo blast in the seventh off of Hyeon-Jong Yang. Alvarez is now at 30 homers and 94 RBI on the season, both of which are career highs. The home runs were his first since August 29 and he had struggled to a .241 batting average with only two RBI over 10 games in the month of September prior to Monday.

Alvarez went 1-for-2 with a double, one RBI, two runs scored and three walks in Friday's 10-5 win over the Angels.

Alvarez drew three walks in a game for the first time this season. He doubled in the third inning, driving in Alex Bregman. In addition, he scored in the third and fourth innings. The 24-year-old is slashing .279/.345/.527 with a team-leading 28 home runs and 91 RBI. He added 80 runs this season in 510 plate appearances.

Alvarez (knee) will sit again Monday against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez fouled a ball off his knee Saturday in San Diego and exited the game. He was able to appear as a pinch hitter Sunday, but if he's involved at all Monday it will be in a similar capacity. Aledmys Diaz will fill in as the designated hitter.

Alvarez (knee) entered Sunday's game as a pinch hitter and struck out in Houston's 4-3 loss San Diego.

Alvarez, who left Saturday's game after fouling a ball off his knee, was improved enough to hit, but he likely would have been removed for a pinch runner had he reached base. It's unclear if the Astros are comfortable using him at designated hitter for multiple at-bats, thereby exposing the knee to the rigors of baserunning.

Alvarez (knee) underwent X-rays that came back negative, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez was diagnosed with a left knee contusion after exiting Saturday's game against San Diego, and he doesn't appear to be dealing with any structural damage. Manager Dusty Baker is optimistic that the 24-year-old won't require a trip to the injured list, so he should be considered day-to-day.

Alvarez suffered a left knee contusion in Saturday's game against the Padres, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez had to be helped off the field after he fouled a ball off his left knee Saturday, and he's considered day-to-day. The 24-year-old will likely be evaluated to determine the extent of the issue, but it doesn't appear as though he's dealing with a serious injury.

Alvarez exited Saturday's game against the Padres with an apparent leg injury, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez went down after fouling a ball off his left leg in the top of the fifth inning, and he needed some assistance to get off the field. He went 1-for-1 with a walk prior to his departure, and it's not yet clear whether he'll be available for Sunday's series finale in San Diego.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 13-2 loss to the Rangers.

Alvarez slammed a solo homer off Taylor Hearn in the fifth inning. It was the only home run for the Astros Sunday. He has six home runs over his last nine games. The 24-year-old is slashing .285/.347/.544 with a team-leading 28 long balls, 88 RBI and 77 runs in 473 plate appearances.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Rangers.

Alvarez opened the scoring in the second inning when he connected on a Kolby Allard offering and turned it around for his 27th homer of the year. Alvarez has now gone deep in five of his last eight contests, upping his season OPS to .888 in 469 plate appearances.

Alvarez went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in a 10-inning victory over the Royals on Wednesday.

Alvarez's fourth-inning homer gave Houston a one-run lead. It was the slugger's fourth long ball in his past six games, and Alvarez also has nine RBI over that span. His 26 home runs this season are tops on the Astros.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer and a walk in Saturday's 15-1 win over the Mariners.

Alvarez broke Seattle's heart yet again Saturday with a three-run homer off Logan Gilbert that broke the game wide open in the third inning. The 24-year-old slugger is now hitting .367 with three home runs and 13 RBI in seven games against the Mariners. Both the Astros and fantasy managers alike will be happy to know that these two teams play seven more times this season.

Alvarez went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer, a double and four RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 12-3 win over the Mariners.

Alvarez notched his first RBI early on with a groundout in the opening frame. He did the rest of his damage his next two times up with a two-run shot in the third and an RBI-double in the fourth. It was the big lefty's first home run since August 7. He's now slashing .289/.352/.529 with 23 homers, 81 RBI, 71 runs scored, a steal and 33:107 BB:K over 438 plate appearances after Friday's standout effort.

Alvarez (illness) is starting Wednesday's game against the Royals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez was removed from Monday's game due to an upset stomach, and he was held out of the lineup Tuesday. The 24-year-old has gone 6-for-12 with three doubles and three RBI across his last three appearances.

Alvarez (illness) is not in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Royals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez left Monday's loss in the eighth inning because of an upset stomach, so his absence from Tuesday's lineup seems likely to be related to that same issue. The Astros should provide an update on the slugger later Tuesday, and for the time being, he can be considered day-to-day.

Alvarez was removed from Monday's loss to the Royals in the top of the eighth inning due to an upset stomach, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with an RBI to begin Monday's contest, but he was replaced by a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth. Manager Dusty Baker revealed after the contest that the 24-year-old had dealt with an upset stomach throughout the game, which prompted his early exit. Whether Alvarez is able to return Tuesday remains to be seen.

Alvarez went 3-for-5 with two RBI in Saturday's win over the Angels.

Batting out of the cleanup spot as the Astros' designated hitter, Alvarez laced a pair of doubles and a single for his ninth three-hit effort of the season. He drove in a run in each of the third and fifth innings to push his RBI total to a team-high 76 on the season. Alvarez is slashing a solid .286/.353/.527 across 417 plate appearances on the campaign.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Twins.

Alvarez slammed a solo home run off Michael Pineda in the fourth inning to give the Astros a two-run lead. He was the only player to hit a homer in the game. The 24-year-old has homered three times in his last five games. On the season, he is slashing .284/.348/.525 with 22 long balls, 65 runs and a team-leading 73 RBI in 396 plate appearances.

Alvarez went 3-for-5 with an RBI single in Friday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to Minnesota.

The slugger is on a five-game hitting streak, going 7-for-19 (.368) in that span. Alvarez kept Houston's chances alive in the 10th inning with an RBI single as his third hit of the game, after which he was replaced by pinch runner Jake Meyers. Through 392 plate appearances, Alvarez is slashing .284/.349/.520 with 21 home runs, 72 RBI, 64 runs scored and a stolen base. He's been limited mainly to designated hitter duties, but there's a chance he could eventually draw starts at first base to cover for the absence of Yuli Gurriel (neck).

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 5-3 defeat by the Twins.

Alvarez took Minnesota reliever Danny Coulombe deep for a two-run dinger in the ninth to halve Houston's deficit, but the blast proved to be too little too late. The 24-year-old slugger is on track to surpass the career high 27 long balls he smacked in 2019 with 21 through 94 games thus far.

Alvarez has been working out at first base, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Houston manager Dusty Baker said Alvarez "is not yet ready" to start a game there. The Astros are missing Yuli Gurriel (neck) and Alex Bregman (quadriceps), which leaves them a player short, so having Alvarez competent at first base would help with roster flexibility. Additionally, the team could use him there in National League cities.

Alvarez entered Sunday's game after Michael Brantley twisted his ankle in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Giants. He went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored.

Alvarez was held out of the starting lineup the last two days while Houston played in a National League ballpark, but that practice might change given the injury to Brantley, who is day-to-day. With games in Los Angeles against the Dodgers on Monday and Tuesday, Alvarez may be needed for left field, if manager Dusty Baker is comfortable using him in the field two consecutive days.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez started in left field in the series opener Friday in San Francisco and went 0-for-4 with a walk, but he'll be on the bench for the second day in a row as the Astros make defense more of a priority in the corner-outfield spots. After Sunday's series finale, Houston will play games in Los Angeles against the Dodgers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Alvarez could be in store for another off day or two with no designated hitter available in the National League park.

Alvarez went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and an additional run in an 8-6 win against the Mariners on Tuesday.

Alvarez connected on a 423-foot homer to right in the first to open the game's scoring, singled and scored in the fifth and singled in the sixth for his first three-hit game since June 18. The designated hitter has been hot of late, going 6-for-14 with three walks over his last four games.

Alvarez went 2-for-2 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and a walk in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Rangers.

Alvarez drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the third inning and plated Houston's final score with a solo shot to right field in the seventh. The long ball was his fifth through 15 games in July and accounted for his 13th RBI this month. Alvarez has 18 homers and a .286/.352/.521 slash line overall this season.

Alvarez is in Tuesday's starting lineup against Cleveland after exiting Monday's game with a hamstring issue.

Alvarez figures to have past all tests after being looked at again by trainers Tuesday. It's still not entirely clear what happened to the sluggers' hamstring during Monday's game, but if any issue is still present, it seems to be something Alvarez can play through for the time being.

Alvarez suffered a hamstring injury during Monday's game against the Indians, Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston reports.

According to manager Dusty Baker, Alvarez suffered the injury on his double, though the severity is unknown at this time. The team is set to re-evaluate the slugger Tuesday morning to determine his availability moving forward.

Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, a double and a walk in Monday's 4-3 win over Cleveland.

Alvarez entered Monday's game in an ugly 2-for-30 slump over his previous eight games but broke out in a big way. His 17th homer of the season was a two-run blast in the fifth inning to give Houston a 4-1 lead. The 6-foot-5 slugger is now slashing an impressive .287/.355/.524 with 35 extra-base hits and 58 RBI through 330 plate appearances.

Alvarez batted second in the order and went 0-for-3 in Sunday's 4-0 loss to the White Sox.

Houston manager Dusty Baker shook up the lineup, as his team mustered just one run and four hits over 18 weekend innings. Alvarez is Exhibit One for the slumping lineup. He's hitless with 12 strikeouts over the last 21 at-bats.

Alvarez went 3-for-3 with a walk, two home runs, five RBI and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 9-6 win over Oakland.

Fresh off the paternity list, Alvarez showed off his "dad" strength Tuesday, clobbering a first-inning two-run homer, then a three-run job in the fifth. The second blast tied the game after Houston had fallen behind early. The slugging DH/outfielder has produced seven homers and 18 RBI over the last 12 games.

Alvarez (paternity) returned to the Astros' 26-man roster Monday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The slugger missed three games, but will surely be back in the Astros' lineup when they begin their series against the Athletics on Tuesday. Alvarez hit .250 with three homers and nine RBI in eight games before going on paternity leave.

Alvarez has left the Astros on paternity leave, Jake Kaplan of The Athleticreports.

The 24-year-old can miss up to three days, but players don't always use the full length of the paternity leave. Taylor Jones was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move.

Alvarez went 1-for-2 with two walks and a solo home run in Thursday's 7-2 win over Cleveland.

After the Astros were swept by the Orioles to start the week, Houston's offense was dormant through the first three innings before Alvarez crushed a J.C. Mejia sinker for a 446-foot homer that left the bat at 116.4 mph. That ignited a comeback that included homers from Jose Altuve (grand slam) and Michael Brantley. Alvarez is batting .300/.370/.531 with 14 home runs and 51 RBI over 292 plate appearances.

Alvarez went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer and a walk in Saturday's win over the Tigers.

Alvarez took Detroit closer Michael Fulmer deep to tie the game at 2-2 in the sixth inning, the 13th long ball of the season for the young slugger, and his fourth in the last six games. After injuries wiped out virtually the entire 2020 season for Alvarez, the 24-year-old has come back to slash .306/.370/.541 with 49 RBI across 270 plate appearances.

Alvarez went 2-for-6 with a grand slam, five RBI and another run scored during Thursday's win over the Tigers.

Facing off with Bryan Garcia in the ninth inning, Alvarez delivered his third homer over the last four games, this time a 420-foot grand slam. Meanwhile, Alvarez has tallied 14 hits over his last 11 games, raising his season slash line to .307/.367/.534 with 12 long balls.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run scored and a walk in a 13-0 rout of Baltimore on Wednesday.

Alvarez launched a 448-foot solo blast in the seventh inning to stake Houston to an eight-run lead. The long ball was his second in his past three games and 11th overall this season. Alvarez has driven in six runs over his past four contests.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer and walk in Monday's 10-2 win over Baltimore.

Alvarez opened up the floodgates for Houston when he drilled a Keegan Akin fastball the other way to extend the lead to 5-0 in the third inning. It marked Alvarez's first homer since June 13 and just hist eighth extra-base hit since returning from a wrist issue June 1. The slugger will hope that Monday's long ball can lead to a prolonged stretch of improved power numbers at the plate going forward.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored in Friday's 2-1 win over the White Sox.

Alvarez knocked two singles and scored a run before delivering a walkoff double in the ninth inning. The 23-year-older slugger has gone 8-for-18 (.444) with three RBI and two extra-base hits during an active five-game hitting streak. He owns an .882 OPS with 36 RBI on the year.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, two runs scored and a steal in Sunday's 14-3 win over the Twins.

Alvarez's sixth-inning blast was his ninth of the season and just his second since May 13. The 6-foot-5 slugger also stole the first base of his MLB career. He owns an .873 OPS with 35 RBI and 25 extra-base hits on the year.

Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, two RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 12-8 loss to Boston.

During a wild back-and-forth affair at Fenway Park, Alvarez's two-run double in the third inning was the first of five lead changes on the day. He's driven in runs in three straight contests, knocking in five with a home run and two doubles. Houston's primary designated hitter is up to .305/.356/.521 with 33 RBI over 49 games.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, another RBI and a walk during Tuesday's win over the Red Sox.

Alvarez extended Houston's lead by mashing a 420-footer against Matt Andriese in the fourth inning. He tacked on another RBI after getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the second. It was the eighth long ball of the year for the 23-year-old, who has mainly seen time as the designated hitter for the Astros. Overall, he sports a solid slash line of .295/.342/.508 across 48 games.

Alvarez started in left field, went 0-for-2 and was hit by a pitch in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Boston.

This was the first start in the field for Alvarez, whose knees have been closely monitored and managed by the Astros' medical staff. If he can play at least one game per week in the field, that would enable manager Dusty Baker to give his position regulars a break, as he did Wednesday when Jose Altuve served as the designated hitter.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Red Sox.

Alvarez was back in the lineup after missing five games with a sore right wrist. He slotted into his customary four hole.

Manager Dusty Baker said Alvarez (wrist) will rejoin the Houston lineup for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Houston's lineup likely won't be formally released until a few hours prior to Tuesday's 8:10 p.m. ET opening pitch, but Alvarez will presumably slot back into the starting nine as the Astros' designated hitter. The 23-year-old had been held out of action for five consecutive games with a sore right wrist, but he looks like he'll avoid a stint on the injured list.

Manager Dusty Baker said Monday that Alvarez (wrist) will remain unavailable for the series opener against the Red Sox, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Baker said Sunday that he didn't think Alvarez would play Monday, and this confirms that the slugger will indeed miss his fifth straight game with the wrist issue. Alvarez will seek to return to the lineup Tuesday.

Alvarez (wrist) is unlikely to play Monday against the Red Sox, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez has missed the last four games due to right wrist soreness, and manager Dusty Baker said Sunday that he'll try to avoid using the 23-year-old Monday. Alvarez is still considered day-to-day, but it's possible that he could land on the injured list if he isn't able to return early in the upcoming series against Boston.

Alvarez (wrist) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Padres, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

It will be the fourth straight absence for the 23-year-old since being scratched with soreness in his right wrist Wednesday. Manager Dust Baker previously indicated he hopes Alvarez can rejoin the lineup early in the week, but he could be headed to the injured list if he doesn't progress as expected over the next couple days.

Alvarez (wrist) isn't starting Saturday's game against the Padres, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez will be out of the lineup for a third consecutive game after he was scratched with a sore right wrist Wednesday. Manager Dusty Baker said that there was "consideration" to put Alvarez on the injured list, but the 23-year-old has made progress recently and will hit ahead of Saturday's game, Rome reports. Baker said that he's hopeful that Alvarez could return early next week, which suggests that he could be held out for Sunday's series finale against the Padres.

Alvarez will sit for the second straight game with right wrist soreness Friday against the Padres, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez was scratched with a sore right wrist Wednesday and is evidently still not ready to go following Thursday's off day. Aledmys Diaz will be the designated hitter Friday.

Alvarez was scratched from Wednesday's lineup versus the Dodgers with right wrist soreness, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 23-year-old was penciled in to bat cleanup as the designated hitter, but he'll instead hit the bench due to the wrist issue. Alvarez is 0-for-13 with eight strikeouts over his past four contests, so the injury could help explain some of his struggles at the plate. He'll have Wednesday plus Thursday's scheduled off day to aid in his recovery before potentially missing any additional games.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

According to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle, manager Dusty Baker said he elected to give Alvarez the day off since the 23-year-old had looked "a little bit lost" at the plate of late. In 21 at-bats over his last five games, Alvarez has produced only three hits while striking out eight times. Michael Brantley will serve as the designated hitter in place of Alvarez, while Chas McCormick picks up a start at Brantley's usual spot in left field.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with two RBI and a double Tuesday against the Athletics.

Alvarez got the Astros on the board with a two-RBI double in the first inning. He was held out of Sunday's contest with soreness in his legs, but he had no trouble getting back into a groove at the plate in his return. After another productive game, Alvarez is hitting .346/.372/.596 with seven home runs, 24 RBI and 25 runs scored across 145 plate appearances on the campaign.

Alvarez has sore legs and will not start Sunday's game against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The designated hitter will still play Saturday before receiving a day off Sunday. Alvarez has hit well all season, but especially of late, having recorded at least two hits in six of his last nine games. Michael Brantley will be the designated hitter Sunday.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in the Astros' 9-1 win over the Angels on Wednesday.

Alvarez homered off Patrick Sandoval in the eighth inning on Wednesday. The 24-year-old continues his scorching hot start to 2021, slashing .347/.378/.619 through 127 plate appearances. He leads the Astros in OPS with .997 and has seven home runs, 22 RBI and 24 runs scored. The slugger has at least two hits in 14 of his 29 starts.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's 7-4 win over Toronto.

Alvarez turned in his fourth straight multi-hit performance and has six such games over his last seven appearances, raising his season batting average from .303 to .362 during that span. The slugging lefty has racked up 16 extra-base hits and is sporting a terrific 1.033 OPS this season.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the Blue Jays.

Alvarez slammed a two-run home run off Steven Matz in the fourth inning. He has six long balls this season and three in as many games. In addition, he has reached base safely in 10 straight games, batting .450 with four home runs and nine RBI over that stretch. The 24-year-old leads the Astros with a .347 batting average and a 1.006 OPS. He is consistently making contact with a .420 BABIP, which is third-highest in baseball.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with two solo home runs Thursday against the Yankees.

Alvarez took Gerrit Cole deep for both of his home runs, first in the fourth inning followed by another blast in seventh. He now has five long balls on the season, three of which have come since May 1. For the campaign, Alvarez is hitting .337/.376/.609 with 17 RBI and 17 runs scored across 101 plate appearances.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, a double and two runs scored in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Rays.

Alvarez opened the game's scoring with his fourth-inning blast off Michael Wacha. He later doubled and scored to retake the lead in the sixth. The 6-foot-5 slugger is slashing .313/.360/.550 with 12 extra-base knocks in 89 plate appearances.

Alvarez went 2-for-5 with a run scored in Friday's 9-2 win over the Rays.

Alvarez was back in the lineup after two games while on the COVID-19 injured list. He's hit safely in three straight games and six times in the last seven.

Alvarez was activated from the COVID-19 injured list and will start Friday at Tampa Bay, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

The 23-year-old missed the past two games while on the COVID-19 IL, but he'll return to the lineup for Friday's contest. Alvarez has a .309/.355/.529 slash line with two home runs, seven doubles, 14 RBI and 10 runs through 18 games this season, and he'll attempt to pick up where he left off following the brief absence.

Alvarez (undisclosed) is undergoing tests Thursday and could return to the team for Friday's game against the Rays, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez was placed on the injured list Wednesday after being held out of the lineup due to health and safety protocols. The fact that the Astros remain hopeful that he'll return Friday seemingly indicates that he hasn't tested positive for COVID-19 himself but was merely exposed to someone else who did.

Alvarez was placed on the injured list Wednesday with no injury designation, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

He was held out of Wednesday's lineup against the Mariners for what manager Dusty Baker called "health and safety" reasons, so Alvarez presumably was either exposed to someone with COVID-19 or is showing symptoms, although we can't be sure at this juncture. Taylor Jones was recalled in a corresponding move.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said that Alvarez would be held out of the lineup Wednesday against the Mariners due to health and safety protocols, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Houston hasn't formally placed Alvarez on the COVID-19 injured list, so the 23-year-old may just be absent from the lineup as a precaution rather than as the result of a positive COVID-19 test or due to close contact with an infected person. Alvarez previously spent a week on the COVID-19 IL earlier this month, missing five games as a result. Baker said that Michael Brantley would handle designated-hitter duties Wednesday with Alvarez out.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with a double an RBI and a run scored in Monday's 5-2 win over Seattle.

Alvarez delivered Jose Altuve with a first-inning double and came around to score from second base on a Yuli Gurriel single. As he chugged around third, Alvarez showed no hint of knee soreness and looked natural sliding into home. He hasn't missed a beat after missing time due to health and safety protocols. Alvarez is 7-for-19 with a double, triple and five RBI in six games.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a walk, a triple and four RBI in Saturday's 16-2 rout of the Angels.

The three-bagger was the first of Alvarez's career, and it cleared the bases in the fifth inning for three of his four RBI on the day. The 23-year-old has four hits in three starts since returning to the lineup, pushing his slash line on the season to .293/.344/.517 through 15 games with two homers and 12 RBI.

Alvarez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Though he was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday, Alvarez will remain on the bench for a second straight day since the Astros don't have the designated hitter available in a National League park. Alvarez should serve as the Astros' top option off the bench for pinch-hitting duties Wednesday before re-entering the starting nine in Thursday's series opener against the Angels.

Alvarez entered Tuesday's game as a pinch hitter and grounded out to end Houston's 6-2 loss to Colorado.

Alvarez returned to action after missing the last four games while on the COVID-19 protocols list. Since the Astros are playing in a National League city, the DH is not in effect, and he came off the bench. Presumably, he will not start Wednesday's game and resume designated hitter duties when Houston returns home for Thursday's game against the Angels.

Alvarez (COVID-19 injured list) was activated but is not starting Tuesday in Coors Field, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

With the Astros playing in a National League park, Alvarez will only serve as a pinch hitter in his return from the IL. He should resume his designated hitter duties Thursday at home against the Angels.

Alvarez (undisclosed) traveled with his teammates to Denver on Monday and is expected to be reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Rockies, Mark Berman of KRIV Fox 26 reports.

The Astros had a handful of players sidelined due to health and safety protocols last week. Several of them look set to return Tuesday, indicating that they never actually came down with the virus themselves. Alvarez's big bat would be quite fun to watch at Coors Field, but it's unclear whether or not the Astros will let him play the field, something he's yet to do this season. With no designated hitter under National League rules, he may not return to the lineup until the Astros play the Angels on Thursday.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Alvarez (COVID-19 injured list) has been cleared to resume individual workouts, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez and the other four Astros placed on the COVID-19 IL on Wednesday all appear to have finished their respective quarantine periods, but Baker didn't specify when any of the players might be ready to rejoin the team. Since Baker previously mentioned that the five players in question are unlikely to be available for the team's ongoing road trip, Alvarez's earliest possible return date would most likely be Thursday, when the Astros host the Angels.

Alvarez (COVID-19 protocols) is unlikely to return during the Astros' current five-game road trip, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez and four of his teammates were placed on the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday. It's not clear whether Alvarez has tested positive for the virus, but manager Dusty Baker said Friday that all five of the players on the COVID-19 IL will likely be sidelined for at least the next five games. Aledmys Diaz and Ronnie Dawson should continue to serve as Houston's primary designated hitter while Alvarez is sidelined.

Alvarez was placed on the injured list for an unspecified reason Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez was one of five Astros who were placed on the injured list Wednesday. While the team hasn't specifically stated that the players have been placed on the COVID-19 injured list, it appears as though the players are currently in the league's COVID-19-related protocols. It's not yet clear whether Alvarez has tested positive for COVID-19, but he'll be able to return as soon as he's clears the league's health and safety protocols as long as he isn't dealing with a positive test result. Aledmys Diaz could serve as the team's primary designated hitter in Alvarez's absence.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in Thursday's victory over the Athletics.

Alvarez cracked a solo shot in the sixth inning off Cole Irvin. The 23-year-old is slashing .333/.364/.667 in the heart of a dynamic Astros lineup.

Alvarez went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 9-1 win over the A's.

With the Astros up 2-1 in the fifth inning, Alvarez smashed a Lou Trivino offering over the wall in left-center field to provide some insurance. Alvarez is quickly making up for lost time after an injury-plagued 2020 and already has one homer and six RBI through two games to begin the season.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with 3 RBI in Thursday's victory over the Athletics.

Alvarez's return was much anticipated, given that the 2019 Rookie of the Year only recorded eight at-bats in 2020 while dealing with injury ailments. Alvarez picked up where he left off, with a huge double that was just shy of clearing the fence in the sixth inning to knock in two. He later recorded a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning and the Astros are certainly happy to have the 23-year-old's bat return to an already explosive lineup.

Alvarez did not appear in Monday's spring game against the Marlins, because manager Dusty Baker wanted to avoid using him in back-to-back games, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez, who made his spring debut Sunday, has been dealing with sore knees, so the manager didn't want to expose him to back-to-back contests this early. It's unclear how long Alvarez would be under such restrictions, or if this was Baker exercising an overabundance of caution.

Alvarez made his Grapefruit League debut Sunday and went 0-for-3 in a game against Washington.

As expected, Alvarez slotted in at designated hitter while batting fifth in the order. Knee issues slowed Alvarez's introduction to game action and will likely limit him to DH-only duties in 2021.

Alvarez (knees) will serve as the Astros' designated hitter and will bat fifth in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 23-year-old slugger will be making his long-awaited spring debut in what marks his first game action since mid-August after a lengthy recovery from bilateral arthroscopic knee surgery. Per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, manager Dusty Baker said he expects Alvarez to receive only 2-to-3 plate appearances Sunday before checking out of the contest, but the 2019 American League Rookie of the Year should be able to play a full game by the time the Astros' Grapefruit League slate concludes. Given Alvarez's past knee issues, the Astros are expected to limit his defensive work throughout the spring, and if he does get in the field, he'll play first base rather than outfield. Because he played exclusively as a DH in his brief 2020 campaign, Alvarez may not carry eligibility in the outfield in certain fantasy leagues.

Alvarez (knee) is scheduled to start at designated hitter in Sunday's spring game against the Cardinals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The 23-year-old will make his spring debut Sunday after being limited to two games last season and ramping up his rehab work through the first few weeks of camp. Alvarez isn't expected to see any work in the outfield this season due to the knee issues, so he could operate exclusively as a designated hitter.

Alvarez (knee) could get into game action early next week, Mark Berman of KRIV Fox 26 reports.

Alvarez's incredible .313/.412/.655 slash line in his 87-game debut back in 2019 indicates the massive boost he could provide both the Astros and fantasy teams if he can just stay on the field. His knees are already rather poor for a player who's merely 23 years old, however, as they limited him to two games last season. The Astros are bringing him along cautiously this spring, but he's at least trending in the right direction and could get into game action with two weeks to spare before the start of the regular season.

Alvarez (knee) participated in on-field batting practice Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez has been increasing his workload over the past several days, and he participated in batting practice for the first time this spring. He could spend some time playing first base this spring if he's fully healthy, but the 23-year-old should serve as the primary designated hitter for the Astros during the regular season if he recovers from his knee injury.

Houston manager Dusty Baker said Alvarez (knee) has increased his workload since joining the team last week for on-field practices, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez has not yet taken batting practice nor fielding practice, although the Astros don't plan to use him in the field often. If he's healthy, Alvarez will be Houston's primary designated hitter.

Alvarez (knee) will spend some time at first base during spring training if he's healthy, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

The Astros tried playing Alvarez at first base when he was in the minors, but the experiment never translated to major-league time at the position. While the team will test him out at first base once again this spring, it's not yet clear whether he'll be considered to play the position at any point during the regular season in 2021. The 23-year-old enters the season as a DH-only player and is "very unlikely" to play in the outfield this year, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Astros manager Dusty Baker suggested that it's 'very unlikely' that Alvarez (knees) will play in the outfield this season, even if it's just a game or two per week, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. "It's shown in the past that whenever [Alvarez] plays in the outfield, he's hurting for two or three days, you know what I mean?" Baker said. "Who knows? That's very speculative as to how much he's going to play or how he's going to feel. We're a long way from making that determination, I think. We're just try

Alvarez already enters this season as a DH-only player, and while this news isn't really a surprise, it reinforces that we won't likely gain a position of eligibility this season.

Alvarez (knee) stretched and ran with his teammates Thursday but did not take batting practice, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez's knee issues limited him to just two games last season, and the fact that they're still limiting him to start camp this year doesn't seem like a good sign. It's possible the Astros are simply treating him with extreme caution with Opening Day still over a month away, and it's a positive that he's at least able to participate in some activities, but it's hard to be too confident in his health until he gets into game action.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday that Alvarez (knees) has not yet been cleared for on-field work at spring training, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Baker suggested that Alvarez was being held out of workouts in a pre-planned arrangement as he recovers from the arthroscopic procedures he required on both of his knees in August, so the 23-year-old isn't believed to be dealing with any sort of setback. The Astros will likely ramp Alvarez slowly throughout the spring with the goal of having him ready to serve as the club's everyday designated hitter when Opening Day arrives. Alvarez made just nine plate appearances in 2020 before being shut down with the dual knee injury.

Alvarez (knees) posted a video of himself running the bases on his personal Instagram account Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 23-year-old was running on an anti-gravity treadmill in mid-October, and he's continued to progress his running program over the past couple months. Alvarez underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees in late August, and it's a good sign to see him on the basepaths with no obvious limitations. There's still a couple months before the start of spring training, and Alvarez is expected to be ready by that point.

Alvarez (knees) posted a video Wednesday on his personal Instagram account featuring him running on an anti-gravity treadmill, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Astros nor Alvarez have issued a formal update on where he stands in his recovery from Aug. 28 arthroscopic surgery on both of his knees, but his ability to do some running -- albeit with mechanical aid -- is seemingly encouraging. Alvarez is expected to make a full recovery from the procedures and should be ready to go for spring training, though the Astros may abandon the idea of the 23-year-old handling even part-time duty at first base or in the corner outfield in 2021 as a means of preserving his health. He's thus slated to enter the upcoming season as a utility-only player in fantasy leagues, and those investing in Alvarez in early drafts may have to have some blind faith that his offseason rehab program remains setback-free.

Alvarez underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees Wednesday and is expected to be ready for spring training.

He will begin physical therapy immediately and is expected to make a full recovery, per the press release. A slight tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee was repaired, and a routine cleanup was performed on his left knee. Alvarez will make for a very tricky evaluation in 2021 redraft leagues, as he has shown his immense potential when healthy, but he is still a high-risk player coming off multiple knee procedures, given how big he is.

The Astros placed Alvarez (knee) on the 45-day injured list Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The transaction was just a procedural move after the Astros already acknowledged days earlier that Alvarez would be shut down for the season due to right knee surgery. Houston added pitcher Chase DeJong to the 40-man roster as a replacement for Alvarez.

Alvarez will have surgery to repair a partial tear of the patella tendon in his right knee and will miss the remainder of the season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Manager Dusty Baker hinted earlier Wednesday that Alvarez could be out for the year, but he confirmed prior to Wednesday's game that he'd have surgery. It's unclear whether he'll be ready for spring training in 2021. Abraham Toro could see an uptick in playing time with Alvarez sidelined.

Alvarez (knee) may be done for the year, according to a radio interview manager Dusty Baker did with Sports Talk 790.

This ominous knee issue has plagued Alvarez dating back to last year, and it was disconcerting to see it pop up almost immediately after returning from the COVID-19 injured list. The team remains very vague about the nature of the injury and whether or not it will require surgery. Abraham Toro is a candidate to see an uptick in playing time with Alvarez out of the mix for the foreseeable future.

Alvarez was placed on the 10-day injured list with right knee discomfort Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

It certainly hasn't been the sophomore season Alvarez dreamed of thus far. After missing all of camp due to COVID-19 and spending the first part of the regular season building up at the Astros' alternate training site, the young slugger lasted just two days into his return before the knee issues he battled back in spring training returned. He last played Saturday, so he'll be eligible to return Aug. 26, though it's not yet clear if he's expected to do so. Taylor Jones was recalled in a corresponding move and could be an option as the designated hitter, though Abraham Toro has handled the position in Alvarez's absence and will likely continue to do so.

Alvarez (knee) remains on the bench Tuesday against the Rockies, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez played just two games this season before the knee issues that plagued him back in spring training resurfaced. He's now set to sit for the third straight contest. The young slugger underwent an MRI on Monday which came back negative, but it remains unclear when he's expected back on the field. Abraham Toro will be the designated hitter in his absence Tuesday.

Alvarez (knee) underwent and MRI on Monday, and the results were negative, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports.

That the results were negative is promising, but the power-hitting Alvarez is not necessarily on the mend. "I asked him when did he start having these problems, and he said back in Double-A," Houston manager Dusty Baker said. "Most of the time when you have knee problems, they don't subside very quickly. And when they do, they have a history of coming back." Alvarez could be available in a pinch-hitting role in the short term.

Alvarez (knee) will remain on the bench Monday against the Rockies, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez lasted just two games in his return from the COVID-19 injured list before the knee soreness he battled back in spring training popped back up, and he's now been on the bench for two straight games. It's not clear when he'll return to the lineup. Abraham Toro will remain the designated hitter in his absence.

The Astros scratched Alvarez from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners with a sore right knee, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez was slated to serve as the Astros' designated hitter in what would have been his third start in as many days since returning from the COVID-19 injured list, but Abraham Toro will now handle those duties instead. As Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle noted Friday in Alvarez's season debut, the 23-year-old was still running gingerly after knee soreness had previously limited his activity during spring training. While it's somewhat troubling that Alvarez is still contending with knee problems over five months since spring training concluded, the Astros are seemingly hopeful that the slugger can continue to play through the injury while receiving occasional maintenance days. That said, Alvarez's fantasy managers will still want to verify that he's ready to play in Monday's series opener versus the Rockies before locking him into weekly lineups.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a homer, four RBI and a hit-by-pitch in Friday's 11-1 win over the Mariners.

Alvarez launched a three-run homer as part of the Astros' nine-run first inning. The designated hitter picked up his fourth RBI of the night when he was hit by a pitch from Mariners reliever Yohan Ramirez in the fifth. In 87 games last season, Alvarez hit .313 with 27 homers, 78 RBI and 58 runs scored. His bat is a big addition to the heart of the Astros' order.

Alvarez revealed Friday that his undisclosed absence for the entirety of summer camp was due to a positive COVID-19 test, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The Astros weren't legally allowed to reveal the reason for Alvarez's absence due to privacy concerns, though that lack of information was a very common pattern regarding players who had tested positive, so the news is hardly a surprise. The young slugger didn't experience symptoms worse than headaches, but he still had to spend three weeks building up at the team's alternate training site once he was cleared for baseball activity. He should be close to the everyday designated hitter for Houston moving forward.

Alvarez will Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle in his season debut Friday against the Mariners.

Alvarez was out for the entirety of camp for undisclosed reasons but spent the last three weeks ramping up at the Astros' secondary site. He should serve as the team's everyday designated hitter going forward, though it's possible he gets a few extra off days early on to ease him back into game action.

Alvarez (undisclosed) was activated from the injured list Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez missed all of camp for undisclosed reasons, but he's now ready to go three weeks after resuming baseball activities. The young slugger hit a remarkable .313/.412/.655 with 27 homers in just 87 games in his debut season last year, though whether or not he'll be able to immediately return to that level following the long layoff remains to be seen. Once he's fully up to speed, he should be the Astros' everyday designated hitter, forcing Kyle Tucker to compete for time in the outfield corners.

Manager Dusty Baker said Alvarez (undisclosed) is "very close" to rejoining the Astros, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez missed all of summer camp for undisclosed reasons, but he's been training at Houston's alternate training site for more than two weeks. Assuming the 23-year-old checks out OK in the coming days, it sounds like he could be cleared to return as soon as this weekend.

Manager Dusty Baker said Sunday that Alvarez (undisclosed) is "making progress," but the skipper was unwilling to put a timeline on the 23-year-old's return to the Astros, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. "He hasn't been hitting that long. He hasn't been running that long," Baker said. "You don't want to do anything to hurt his legs, you don't want to do anything to hurt his obliques because you're not used to rotating. I really don't know how long it's going to be or how long it's going to t

After missing all of summer camp for undisclosed reasons, Alvarez has been working out at the Astros' alternate training site in Corpus Christi for about two weeks as he looks to get reacclimated to baseball activities following a lengthy layoff due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The slugger looked like his normal self during an intrasquad game Saturday, hitting a pair of doubles against minor-league pitcher Luis Garcia. Though Alvarez seems to be rounding into form, the Astros' slow approach with regards to his ramp-up program makes it unlikely he'll be activated from the injured list ahead of Monday's series opener against the Giants. With no target date for Alvarez's 2020 debut, his fantasy managers will likely have to err on the side of caution and keep him on their bench for another week.

Alvarez (undisclosed) took batting practice and did some running Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez is slowly ramping up after missing all of summer camp for undisclosed reasons. The 23-year-old slugger was originally hoping to return next week, though it's unclear if that's still the plan after manager Dusty Baker said "the cavalry's a ways off." Kyle Tucker should continue to see time at DH and in the outfield in Alvarez's absence.

Alvarez (undisclosed) is roughly 10-14 days away from being ready to join the Astros, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez missed the entirety of summer camp for undisclosed reasons and was said to be week away from game action upon his return. He still appears to be on that timeline, giving Kyle Tucker a clear path to the primary designated hitter role for most of the next two weeks.

Alvarez (undisclosed) has been able to hit and will take live batting practice soon, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez missed all of camp for undisclosed reasons and was considered weeks away from game action when he arrived Friday. That still appears to be the case, though a precise timeline remains unclear. The Astros have used four different players in five games at the designated hitter spot in his absence, though Kyle Tucker appears to be the primary option against righties.

Alvarez (undisclosed) isn't close to being ready for game action, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez missed the entirety of camp for undisclosed reasons and was only just cleared to join his teammates for workouts Friday. He was reportedly unable to do any baseball activities while away from the team, so he needs to undergo a full preseason buildup process before appearing in a game. In theory, serving as a designated hitter could shorten that process somewhat, but it nevertheless sounds as though it will be a matter of weeks, not days, until Alvarez is back on the field. Aledmys Diaz will serve as the designated hitter in his absence on Opening Day, though Kyle Tucker could also spend time in the role against righties.

Alvarez (undisclosed) was cleared to begin participating in baseball activities Friday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

The 23-year-old remains on the injured list and was absent from the entirety of summer training for undisclosed reasons, but he's now on track to join the team in . Alvarez will report to the Astros' alternate training site to begin his preparations for the season, though it's unclear when he may reach game readiness. Aledmys Diaz and Kyle Tucker are expected to serve as the designated hitter until the young slugger is activated off the IL.

General manager James Click said Thursday there is no update on Alvarez's status, other than that the team is doing everything it can to get him back on the field as soon as possible, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Suffice to say, that Alvarez will not be in the Opening Day lineup and can be considered out indefinitely. He has been unable to report to camp for undisclosed reasons. Kyle Tucker and Aledmys Diaz are expected to get starts at designated hitter early in the season.

The Astros placed Alvarez on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to an unspecified issue.

Alvarez and starting pitcher Jose Urquidy were both moved to the IL with the two having yet to arrive at summer camp due to what manager Dusty Baker called " a condition that prevents them from reporting to the field," per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. The vagueness of Baker's explanation makes it difficult to predict when Alvarez might be ready to join the Astros for workouts, leaving the slugger's status for the July 24 season opener versus the Mariners up in the air. If Alvarez is still sidelined when Opening Day arrives, Kyle Tucker would likely be the primary beneficiary of a regular spot in the Houston lineup.

Alvarez (undisclosed) remains absent from the Astros' summer camp as of Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Astros ended up cancelling their workout Saturday for the second time in six days due to COVID-19 concerns, but Alvarez's ongoing absence from camp has created some doubt about his availability for the team's July 24 season opener versus the Mariners. Houston has been mum on Alvarez's absence thus far, with manager Dusty Baker merely stating that a "condition" has prevented him from reporting to camp. Though the status of Alvarez's health won't be known until he reports, the assumption is that he's at least moved past the knee soreness he experienced in spring training.

Alvarez (knee) didn't join the Astros for their workouts in Houston, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Manager Dusty Baker said he couldn't say why Alvarez was unavailable due to "league mandates," so it sounds as though his absence is unrelated to the lingering knee issues that he battled before play was paused in March. It's not clear when he's expected to return.

Alvarez (knee) will be the Astros' primary designated hitter in 2020, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez is listed as an outfielder, but a lingering knee issue and his defensive liabilities make him the likely DH for a majority of Houston's 60-game schedule. Cementing Alvarez at DH would leave roster spots for Myles Straw and Kyle Tucker or perhaps a surprise candidate like Chas McCormick.

The Astros hope to have Alvarez (knee) play left field more frequently this season than he did as a rookie, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Heading into the 2020 season, Alvarez will likely only be eligible as a utility player in most fantasy leagues after logging 74 appearances as a designated hitter in 2019 and only 10 in the outfield. The slugging 22-year-old is still expected to slot in as the Astros' primary DH in his sophomore campaign, but Alvarez could still see a boost in his field work on the occasions manager Dusty Baker wants to give veteran corner outfielders MIchael Brantley and/or Josh Reddick a breather. Before the MLB suspended its season March 12, Alvarez had been sidelined with soreness in both knees, but he's expected to be healthy once baseball resumes in mid-May or later.

Alvarez (knee) won't play Wednesday as previously scheduled, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that he was unsure when Alvarez would return or if he'd be ready for Opening Day. The young slugger has been dealing with knee soreness for a week, though the Astros originally didn't sound particularly concerned. If Alvarez does miss time at the start of the season, that could open up at-bats for Kyle Tucker, who is currently stuck as the team's fourth outfielder.

Manager Dusty Baker said Monday that he hopes Alvarez (knee) will be able to return to game action Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez has been shut down since Wednesday with knee soreness, but he's on track to resume full activity Monday ahead of a likely return to a role in the starting lineup. The 22-year-old's absence is unlikely to affect his availability for Opening Day as he's expected to play a prominent role for the Astros after making his major-league debut in 2019.

Manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday that Alvarez will be withheld from baseball activities for "three to four days" while the slugger manages knee soreness, Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez's shutdown seems to be precautionary more than anything, but until he re-enters the Astros' Grapefruit League lineup, his status will be one worth tracking. Alvarez is expected to occupy a spot in the heart of the Houston lineup in 2020 after an exceptional rookie campaign in which he posted a .412 on-base percentage, 27 home runs and 78 RBI in just 87 games with the big club.

Alvarez's removal from the lineup for Tuesday's game against St. Louis was due to soreness in his knees, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Manager Dusty Baker didn't sound particularly concerned, calling the lineup change precautionary. It sounds as though Alvarez is expected to be fine by Opening Day, though that won't be entirely clear until he returns to the lineup.

Alvarez was scratched from the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cardinals for undisclosed reasons, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

If the young slugger is dealing with an injury, that should be revealed at manager Dusty Baker's upcoming press conference. Alvarez is looking to build on his incredible rookie season, which saw him win Rookie of the Year despite playing in just 87 games. He hit .313/.412/.655 with 27 homers.