The Houston Astros are getting an upgrade just in time for the stretch run.
Three-time All-Star slugger Yordan Álvarez has been activated from the injured list after missing nearly four months due to a bone fracture in his right hand. He’s in the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies and batting clean-up.
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Álvarez has been sidelined since May 3 due to the injury that was initially diagnosed as a muscle strain. The Astros expected Álvarez to miss a few weeks until imaging on May 31 revealed that he’d actually sustained a bone fracture.
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His return is timely, as the Astros are engaged in a competitive race atop the AL West with 31 games remaining in their regular season. The Astros entered Tuesday at 72-59, with a 1.5-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the division. The 71-61 Mariners have a four-game lead over the Kansas City Royals for the final wild-card spot in the American League.
Alvarez was an All-Star in each season from 2022 to ’24. He led the Astros in 2024 with a .308 batting average, 35 home runs and 86 RBI. He has received MVP votes in each of the past three seasons and won a Silver Slugger in 2022 while finishing third in AL MVP voting.
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Álvarez has also come up clutch in the postseason throughout his career. In 60 career playoff games, he has slashed .294/.393/.591 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI. He was named ALCS MVP in 2021 as the Astros defeated the Boston Red Sox to advance to the World Series.