The latest on Astros star Yordan Alvarez.
Aside from researching a prospective postseason opponent, the Houston Astros have no reason to be emotionally invested in their final two 2024 regular season games versus the Cleveland Guardians. They have won the American League’s third seed and will face either the Detroit Tigers or the Kansas City Royals in the Wild Card round next week. The team has not yet determined if one of its best players will be on the roster for that matchup.
The Astros are awaiting a decision on the injured Yordan Alvarez. The All-Star slugger suffered a right knee injury while sliding into second base in a game against the Los Angeles Angels last week, casting doubt on his ability to play in the MLB playoffs’ first round. He is, however, providing the organization with enough to think about in light of his recent progress.
“Yordan Alvarez could do baseball drills tomorrow, manager Joe Espada said,” MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart said on Saturday. “The swelling in his knee has subsided.” With the clock ticking, one of baseball’s finest hitters is giving fans reason to be positive in the last few days of September.
Alvarez has a few more days to complete all of the necessary steps and earn a position on the Astros’ playoff roster. If his knee responds well to drills this weekend, he will have a legitimate chance to bat in the designated hitter position on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park.
Astros’ Yordan Alvarez is coming along nicely
Espada does not provide a timeline, but he is encouraged by what he sees. “I’m really happy with where he’s at,” the first-year captain stated.
The 2022 World Series champion and 2021 ALCS MVP is a standout playoff performer who drives the team’s offense to new heights. Survival is possible without Yordan Alvarez, given the Astros’ number of meaningful contributors, but a deep run is incredibly difficult to envision without him.
Houston is aware of this as well, and is desperately attempting to justify allocating one of its 26 roster spots to this hitting prodigy. Alvarez concluded the regular season with a.308 batting average, 35 home runs, 86 RBIs, a.567 slugging percentage, and an OPS of.959. Will this be the extent of his damage?
The waiting game continues for a bit longer.
