Yordan Alvarez Suffers Significant Ankle Injury
The Astros’ star hitter, Yordan Alvarez, has suffered a “pretty significant” left ankle sprain, according to manager Joe Espada announced this Tuesday. The injury will keep him out of action for an indefinite period, right at a crucial moment in the season where Houston is fighting for the divisional title and a spot in the American League playoffs. Espada did not want to give a deadline for Alvarez’s return, who remains on the active roster.Alvarez, who underwent an MRI on Tuesday, suffered the injury while crossing the plate during Monday’s victory against the Texas Rangers. He was seen leaving the Astros clubhouse on crutches and with a boot on his left foot. The three-time All-Star appeared to slip while crossing the plate in the first inning, scoring from first base due to a throwing error by Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter after a single by Carlos Correa. Alvarez was attended to by an athletic trainer outside the Astros dugout and then helped down the stairs. Espada declined to say whether the team plans to place Alvarez on the injured list.“This is going to keep him out for a while,” Espada said. “Let’s not get into days, weeks, anything like that. We’re going to go day-to-day, but this is going to take a while to heal.”
Joe Espada, Astros Manager
Alvarez is batting .273 with six home runs and 27 RBIs, but has been limited to 48 games due to a right hand fracture that forced him to miss 101 games. Until Tuesday, Houston is half a game behind the Seattle Mariners in the American League West Division. The Astros are three games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians and Texas for the last American League Wild Card spot.“One day at a time,” Espada said. “I’m not going to give you days, weeks, what we’re going to do next. You’re just going to have to sit back and wait.”
Joe Espada, Astros Manager
“We need him there, but those are things we can’t control,” Espada said about Alvarez. “It’s an accident that happens on a baseball field and that’s not what we need right now. But we have guys here who understand the situation we’re in. We have talent. We have guys who want it. We have guys who can fight and get us through this stretch.”
Joe Espada, Astros Manager
