The Houston Astros are getting an upgrade in time for the stretch run.
Three-time All-Star slugger Yordan Alvarez has been activated from the injured list after missing nearly four months with a bone fracture in his right hand. He’s in the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies and will bat cleanup.
Alvarez has been sidelined with the injury that was initially diagnosed as a muscle strain since May 3. The Astros initially expected Alvarez to miss a few weeks with the injury before imaging on May 31 revealed that he’d actually sustained a bone fracture.
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His return is timely as the Astros are engaged in a competitive race atop the AL West with 31 games remaining in their regular season. The Astros enter Tuesday at 72-59, with a 1.5-game lead over the Seattle Mariners for first place in the division. The 71-61 Mariners have a four-game lead over the Kansas City Royals for the final wild-card spot in the American League.
Alvarez was an All-Star in each season from 2022-24. He led the Astros in 2024 with a .308 batting average, 35 home runs and 86 RBI. He’s received MVP votes in each of the last three seasons and won a Silver Slugger in 2022 while finishing third in AL MVP voting.
Alvarez has also come up clutch in the postseason throughout his career. In 60 career playoff games, Alvaraz has slashed .294/.393/.591 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI. He was named ALCS MVP in 2021 as the Astros defeated the Boston Red Sox to advance to the World Series.