Astros: Yordan Alvarez avoids disaster, but injury is still serious

Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez may have avoided serious injury to his hand during the team’s game against the Chicago White Sox Saturday, June 18.

The Houston Astros have one of the top hitters in the entire league in slugger Yordan Alvarez. But during the team’s game against the Chicago White Sox, Alvarez left in the seventh inning due to an injury suffered on the final swing of his at-bat. Then, it was revealed that Alvarez was not in the lineup for the team’s series finale on Sunday.

According to ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney, the Astros feared that Alvarez suffered a broken hamate bone in his hand, but an exam revealed that it was no longer the case. Despite the good news, manager Dusty Baker said he hoped that Alvarez would be sidelined for “just a few days.”

Yordan Alvarez avoids disaster, but still sidelined with hand injury

It is not specified which hand is injured, as Baker did not want to reveal it due to the opposition reading it. But, he did say that there was “nothing structurally wrong” with his hand.

Alvarez has been on a tear this season, specifically in the month of June. Through 15 games, the slugger is slashing .444/.523/.778 while recording four home runs, 19 RBI and 24 hits through 54 at-bats.

On the season, Alvarez has recorded a .311 batting average, a 1.026 OPS, 18 home runs and 47 RBI through 59 games.

The Astros will no doubt hope that Alvarez will be able to return to the lineup in what is a pivotal week for them. Houston will be on the road to take on the New York Mets and New York Yankees, who have the best record in the National and American Leagues, respectively.