Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Scheduled to play nine innings
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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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Hitless in spring debut
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Alvarez went 0-for-3 in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.
Alvarez took his first official at-bats of the exhibition season after dealing with a hand injury for much of camp, which was similar to the hand issues he played through last year. 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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: In LF for spring debut Thursday
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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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Poised for spring debut Thursday
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Astros manager Dusty Baker said that Alvarez (hand) will make his Grapefruit League debut Thursday against the Nationals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Alvarez has been out all spring while dealing with nagging soreness in his left hand, an issue similar to what he experienced in both hands at times during the 2022 season. The Astros seem to be taking extra precaution with Alvarez this spring, but fantasy managers still must have some level of concern about the slugger's ability 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 a stint on the injured list.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Could play next week
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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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Taking on-field batting practice
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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 his sore hand out on the field. Assuming things go well, he 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 the window for the slugger to get ready is closing.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Feels good after hitting in cage
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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 cage 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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Opening Day 'still the plan'
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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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Takes swings in batting cage
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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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Timeline bumped back up
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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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Aiming to swing bat next week
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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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Hopes to swing bat by this weekend
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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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Still hasn't swung bat
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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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Expected to be ready for opener
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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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Not yet swinging
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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 throughout 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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Still being held out of drills
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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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Nursing hand soreness again
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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 landing 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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Clutch homer in Game 6
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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. It was Alvarez's 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 14 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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Three doubles in blowout win
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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.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Two hits in return
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Alvarez went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored Friday against the Rays.
Alvarez missed one game due to an ankle 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.
