Apr 19, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) sits in the dugout during the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Toronto Blue Jays at Houston Astros
(Houston, Texas) — The Astros will be without their best player for the foreseeable future.
Yordan Alvarez is unlikely to resume baseball activities for at least three weeks, according to Chandler Rome of the Athletic.
The outfielder first experienced minor oblique soreness on his final swing in the batting cage prior to the Astros contest with the Blue Jays last Thursday. Alvarez wound up aggravating the issue during his first-inning at bat during the game.
“It’s going to take at least two weeks for us to get a feel for how it’s healing,” GM Dana Brown said during a radio appearance on Wednesday.
While Brown is optimistic, he recognized the lengthy road to recovery.
“You take those two weeks and then another week to figure out when he starts to have some activity, and OK, how’s his body responding? That’s three weeks right there. You’re looking at, once he’s starting to swing a bat, maybe it’s four weeks or so.”
At that rate, it’s fair to assume Alvarez will be sidelined until at least the All-Star break.
Michael Brantley probably won’t be helping before then, either, so the stars are aligned for Yainer Diaz to get a bunch of at-bats between DH and first base.
The shorthanded Astros enter Wednesday night 3.5 games behind the surging Rangers.
