Star Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez departing today’s loss against the Twins after getting struck in the leg by a pitch. Manager Joe Espada told reporters (including MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart) after the game that Alvarez is “feeling sore” as he nurses the issue, which has been termed a right knee contusion, but that the club has not sent the 27-year-old for any testing.
Alvarez himself spoke to reporters (including Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle) after the game as well, telling them through an interpreter that he was hit on the same spot on his knee a couple of weeks ago and that the inflammation from that previous incident had not yet fully gone away when he was struck this afternoon. Alvarez acknowledged he was in “a lot of pain” following the game but suggested that he and the club would see how he feels tomorrow before making any decisions regarding his status.
It’s the second consecutive day the Astros have lost a key player to a hit by pitch, as star second baseman Jose Altuve was removed from yesterday’s game after getting struck in the wrist by a pitch. Altuve wasn’t in the club’s lineup for today’s game, but Kawahara notes that x-rays on the veteran’s wrist came back negative and that the star expected not to miss much time due to the issue. That may still be the case even after he was absent from today’s lineup, as Espada told reporters (including Kawahara) today that Altuve was available off the bench to pinch hit if necessary today, although youngster Grae Kessinger was the one who ultimately replaced Alvarez at DH.
The fact that Altuve, who has slashed an excellent .310/.360/.466 (136 wRC+) across 86 games this year in his 14th year suiting up for the Astros in the majors, is seemingly poised to avoid the IL is surely a relief for fans in Houston as the club attempts to chase down the Mariners in the AL West. Unfortunately, Alvarez may be even more important to the club’s offense. The slugger has hit at his typical elite level this year, slashing .300/.383/.548 with a 158 wRC+ that ranks ninth in the majors across 371 trips to the plate. For an Astros club that has gotten less offensive output than expected from key pieces like Alex Bregman, Yainer Diaz, and Chas McCormick, the offense both Alvarez and Altuve provide in the lineup is all the more important, and even a brief absence for either player would be troubling.
While two of the club’s star hitters are dealing with injury issues, a third is making progress toward a return from the IL. Espada also told reporters (including McTaggart) today that outfielder Kyle Tucker did some jogging yesterday as he works his way back from a shin contusion that’s kept him on the injured list for the past month. Espada added that Tucker has also been playing catch and has resumed hitting off a pitching machine. Tucker isn’t expected to return to the club until after the All Star break at this point, but the fact that he’s begun doing some light running and basic drills is an encouraging step forward for a player Houston figures to rely on heavily in the second half.
Prior to being placed on the shelf last month, the 27-year-old was in the midst of a career year, even compared to the standards set by his All-Star campaigns in 2022 and ’23. In 60 games this season prior to going on the shelf, Tucker slashed an incredible .266/.395/.584 with a 174 wRC+. While Tucker’s surprisingly low .245 BABIP holds his overall line down slightly, the outfielder was walking (17.6%) more than he struck out (15.6%) and had slugged 19 homers in just 262 trips to the plate prior to his injury. If he can post numbers in a similar vicinity upon his return to action, Tucker will add another key cog to the club’s lineup and surely help shoulder the load that Alvarez and Altuve have taken on in his absence.
StrosFanSince94
I’m betting we have some fireworks tomorrow. Someone on the Twins is getting plunked.
cwsOverhaul
Correa has clearly ordered the “hits” on his former teammates……..jk
steven st croix
Looks like a Twin is going to get dotted up tomorrow
lsujedi
They all just need to come over to my house for a warm soaky bubble bath.
The Einheri
I don’t think any of the throws were deliberate. And I seem to recall Twins’ Jose Miranda also getting hit today early in the game as he was trying for his 11th consecutive hit.
The Einheri
Well… Carlos Correa just had to be taken out of the game after getting hit.
Sigh….
Spaced-Cowboy
Love me the ol’ bean ball.
Old York
Ouch!
Interesting data, though on that ball as it hit off his leg:
Exit Velocity: 35.3 mph
Launch Angle: 24°
Hit Distance: 57 ft
JLinTexas
It wouldn’t bother me much if we did retaliate, but with the fines and suspensions now days it gets kind of expensive.
Windowpane
If the Astros aren’t banging on a garbage can, they’re hanging out over the plate. Pitchers will give hitters the inside half of the plate, but not the outer half. Sooner or later pitchers will reclaim the outer half. If they’re nice about it, they drill you in the leg or backside.
Astros_fan_in_Aus
No injury report from Brown or Espada can be believed. Tucker was going to be a couple of days – it’s now a month and counting.. Verlander was going to be a week, it’s now a month and counting.
The list goes on. They seem to think this gives them some sort of advantage.
mlb fan
“No injury report from Brown…can be believed”..You think Dana Brown & Esoada are the only ones that spin baseball news, trades and injuries?..All teams and their GMs do this to a degree. You must not listen to Dr. Aaron Boone’s news & injury reports. His news & injury reports have more spin and fantasy than Harry Potter, Forrest Gump & “Game of Thrones” combined.
Motown is My Town
Astros are the worst at letting everyone know the injury status of their players
sultan of swat
Seems to me the old HEB commercial curse is taking its toll. Bregman or Peña is next.
Motown is My Town
With my luck this year with my fantasy team I’ll keep Alvarez in my lineup this week thinking he’ll be available but Astros management will announce on Wednesday they’re putting in on IL. If I sit him this week he’ll be fine and go on a tear. Can’t win for losing this year, it sucks!
coupofthecentury
Still b-hurt after 7 whole years?! Geez dude, go grab some cream for that my boy.