Star Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez departing in the present day’s loss in opposition to the Twins after getting struck within the leg by a pitch. Supervisor Joe Espada informed reporters (together with MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart) after the sport that Alvarez is “feeling sore” as he nurses the difficulty, which has been termed a proper knee contusion, however that the membership has not despatched the 27-year-old for any testing.
Alvarez himself spoke to reporters (together with Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle) after the sport as effectively, telling them via an interpreter that he was hit on the identical spot on his knee a few weeks in the past and that the irritation from that earlier incident had not but totally gone away when he was struck this afternoon. Alvarez acknowledged he was in “loads of ache” following the sport however recommended that he and the membership would see how he feels tomorrow earlier than making any selections relating to his standing.
It’s the second consecutive day the Astros have misplaced a key participant to successful by pitch, as star second baseman Jose Altuve was faraway from yesterday’s sport after getting struck within the wrist by a pitch. Altuve wasn’t within the membership’s lineup for in the present day’s sport, however Kawahara notes that x-rays on the veteran’s wrist got here again destructive and that the star anticipated to not miss a lot time as a result of subject. Which will nonetheless be the case even after he was absent from in the present day’s lineup, as Espada informed reporters (together with Kawahara) in the present day that Altuve was out there off the bench to pinch hit if mandatory in the present day, though teenager Grae Kessinger was the one who in the end changed Alvarez at DH.
The truth that Altuve, who has slashed a wonderful .310/.360/.466 (136 wRC+) throughout 86 video games this yr in his 14th yr suiting up for the Astros within the majors, is seemingly poised to keep away from the IL is unquestionably a aid for followers in Houston because the membership makes an attempt to chase down the Mariners within the AL West. Sadly, Alvarez could also be much more essential to the membership’s offense. The slugger has hit at his typical elite stage this yr, slashing .300/.383/.548 with a 158 wRC+ that ranks ninth within the majors throughout 371 journeys to the plate. For an Astros membership that has gotten much less offensive output than anticipated from key items like Alex Bregman, Yainer Diaz, and Chas McCormick, the offense each Alvarez and Altuve present within the lineup is all of the extra essential, and even a short absence for both participant could be troubling.
Whereas two of the membership’s star hitters are coping with damage points, a 3rd is making progress towards a return from the IL. Espada additionally informed reporters (together with McTaggart) in the present day that outfielder Kyle Tucker did some jogging yesterday as he works his approach again from a shin contusion that’s saved him on the injured record for the previous month. Espada added that Tucker has additionally been taking part in catch and has resumed hitting off a pitching machine. Tucker isn’t anticipated to return to the membership till after the All Star break at this level, however the truth that he’s begun performing some mild operating and fundamental drills is an encouraging step ahead for a participant Houston figures to depend on closely within the second half.
Previous to being positioned on the shelf final month, the 27-year-old was within the midst of a profession yr, even in comparison with the requirements set by his All-Star campaigns in 2022 and ’23. In 60 video games this season previous to happening the shelf, Tucker slashed an unbelievable .266/.395/.584 with a 174 wRC+. Whereas Tucker’s surprisingly low .245 BABIP holds his total line down barely, the outfielder was strolling (17.6%) greater than he struck out (15.6%) and had slugged 19 homers in simply 262 journeys to the plate previous to his damage. If he can publish numbers in an analogous neighborhood upon his return to motion, Tucker will add one other key cog to the membership’s lineup and absolutely assist shoulder the load that Alvarez and Altuve have taken on in his absence.