Per the Houston Astros, outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) received some encouraging news from a hand specialist that examined him on Wednesday. Alvarez received additional imaging, which showed that the main cause of his current pain is merely inflammation, and the small fracture that had been sustained is now a non-factor in the pain that Alvarez is experiencing. He received two injections on Wednesday and will refrain from baseball activity with his hand in the coming days. The specialist also determined that the 28-year-old's hand has made noticeable progress when compared to the imaging done over the last several weeks. While it's good news, there's still no timetable for the All-Star's return. In a best-case scenario, Alvarez will be ready to go for the start of the second half of the season on July 18.

The Houston Astros transferred outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) to the 60-day injured list on Wednesday, according to the Houston Chronicle's Matt Kawahara. In an additional moves, the Astros placed infielder Luis Guillorme (hamstring) on the 10-day IL with a hamstring strain and recalled infielder Zack Short from Triple-A Sugar Land. Houston was hoping that Alvarez could rejoin the club before the All-Star break, but that is unlikely to happen now after the 28-year-old All-Star suffered a setback this week. It's turned into a lost season for the left-handed slugger, as he's been out since early May and has hit just .210/.306/.340 with three home runs, 18 RBI and seven runs scored. Fantasy managers must continue to stash Alvarez and keep their fingers cross that he can return for the start of the second half on July 18.

The Houston Chronicle's Matt Kawahara reports that Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez (hand) experienced pain in his hand when hitting on Monday. According to General Manager Dana Brown, the 28-year-old's rehab will be paused, and he'll see a specialist regarding the fracture in his hand. It's undoubtedly disappointing news, as Alvarez was seemingly expected to return to the team within the next week or so. We'll learn more after he meets with doctors, but it doesn't bode well for his status. He last suited up for Houston on May 2, and boasts an underwhelming .210/.306/.340 triple slash with three homers through 29 appearances.

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown reports that outfielder Yordan Alvarez (hand) could return during the team's next homestand. "If things go well, it could be next homestand. I haven't ruled out potentially flying him to L.A....I don't think he needs much (more) time." The fantasy stalwart has been out since early May when he fractured his hand, though he's getting close to a return. If Brown decides against flying him out to Los Angeles for their weekend meeting with the Dodgers, his next chance at action will be a three-game series against the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Monday. Alvarez scuffled through his first 100 at-bats (.210), but he'll be a welcome sight for the Astros and fantasy managers upon his return.

The Houston Astros have not ruled out the possibility of designated hitter/outfielder Yordan Alvarez (hand) coming off the injured list next weekend, according to general manager Dana Brown. It's "not the most likely scenario, but we're not putting that aside," Brown said of a potential return for a July 4-6 road series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Alvarez, out since May 2 because of a fracture in his right hand, has taken swings in the batting cage this weekend. Before landing on the IL, Alvarez hit a disappointing .210/.306/.340 with three home runs and 18 RBI in 121 plate appearances. However, considering the 28-year-old slugger is one of the game's premier hitters, the Astros and fantasy managers will happily welcome him back.

Houston Astros designated hitter/outfielder Yordan Alvarez (hand) could be nearing a return from the injured list. The slugger has been out since May 2 after sustaining a fracture in his right hand. Alvarez took 25 swings in the batting cage on Saturday and plans to do the same on Sunday, hoping he can return before the All-Star Break on July 14. Before getting hurt, Alvarez had struggled to a .210/.306/.340 slash line with three home runs and 18 RBI in 121 plate appearances. However, his walk rate (13.4%) and strikeout rate (17.4%) were still in line with career norms, and his xBA (.246) and xSLG (.495) point to better days ahead. With his strong career track record, Alvarez remains a must-start in all formats upon his return.

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) was able to hit off a tee on Sunday. Now, Alvarez is set to do it again on Tuesday as he continues to work his way back from a fractured hand. Alvarez has been sidelined since early May, but is hopeful to get back in the lineup soon. The expectation is that Alvarez is going to need a rehab assignment before being cleared to return to Houston. That being said, Alvarez is probably going to be sidelined for at least another week or two. The fact he's swinging the bat again is a good sign in his recovery.

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) is playing catch with manager Joe Espada in right field at Daikin Park on Tuesday before the team's contest against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, according to The Athletic's Chandler Rome. It's good to see Alvarez doing some baseball activities, but the 27-year-old All-Star slugger might not be back in the big leagues until after the mid-July All-Star break. Alvarez has been sidelined since May 3 with a fractured right hand and has dealt with lingering discomfort. So far, it's turning into a lost season for the Cuban outfielder, especially since he hit just .210 (21-for-100) with three homers and 18 RBI before going on the shelf. All fantasy managers can do is remain patient and hope he can find his pre-injury form when he returns in the second half.

Per Houston Astros manager Joe Espada, outfielders Yordan Alvarez (hand) and Zach Dezenzo (hand) are still not hitting. Dezenzo has been out with a capsule strain in his hand since the end of May, and though he's reportedly pain-free, he still hasn't picked up a bat. Alvarez, on the other hand, is still recovering from a fracture he sustained in his hand that has sidelined him since May 3. The team has already noted that the fantasy stalwart won't resume hitting until he's fully healed, so he still has a bit more to go. It seems likely that both athletes will require minor-league rehab assignments before rejoining the roster. However, there's been no news on that front for either player.

Although Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) still isn't taking swings, he's apparently feeling better. "Day-to-day thing, he feels a lot better," general manager Dana Brown said on Wednesday. The Astros have made it sound like Alvarez's hand injury hasn't been all that serious all along, but he hasn't played since May 5 and is in danger of missing the rest of the first half of the season if he doesn't resume swinging a bat soon. The 27-year-old All-Star is dealing with a fracture in his right hand, which could help explain why he has hit just .210/.306/.340 with only three home runs, 18 RBI and seven runs scored in his 100 at-bats. There remains no timetable for his return, but fantasy managers must keep him stashed in an injured list spot and hope that whenever he comes back, he'll be the Alvarez of old.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that neither outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) nor outfielder Zach Dezenzo (hand) have resumed hitting, while outfielder Chas McCormick (oblique) was able to hit off a tee on Friday. It's unclear whether Alvarez will join the team on their seven-game road trip next week. The 27-year-old left-handed hitter's fractured right hand has not fully healed, so it's unclear when exactly he might be able to return to the big-league roster. It's shaping up as a lost season for the Cuban slugger to this point, as he hasn't played since May 2 and most likely won't be able to make it back until after the mid-July All-Star break. Before his injury, Alvarez was hitting an uncharacteristic .210/.306/.340 with only three home runs, 18 RBI and seven runs scored in 100 at-bats. With Alvarez out, rookie Jacob Melton has gotten an opportunity as an everyday player.

Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez (hand) underwent further imaging on his injured hand, which revealed a fracture. However, Chandler Rome of The Athletic noted that the fracture is 60 percent healed and that the team hopes the slugger can return to action in "the near future." Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his status, as it appeared the 27-year-old was nearing a return as he took live batting practice on Friday. However, Alvarez will now have to wait until the fracture has completely healed. Before his injury, Alvarez posted a .210/.306/.340 line with three home runs. However, under the hood, he generated an elite .363 xwOBA with a 94.0 mph average exit velocity. While he remains sidelined, the Astros will likely have several players operate as the DH. This will likely open more opportunities for either Yainer Diaz or Victor Caratini to see playing time when they are not catching.

Despite looking excellent in batting practice before Friday's contest against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays at Daikin Park, Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) remains on the 10-day injured list and is not in the starting lineup. Zach Dezenzo is serving as the DH and is batting eighth against Rays right-hander Ryan Pepiot. A report surfaced recently that Alvarez is getting close to returning from the IL and won't require a minor-league rehab assignment, but he won't be back as of Friday. When the three-time All-Star does return, playing time will be harder to come by for Dezenzo, who is batting .237 (22-for-93) with two homers and 10 RBI on the year. Alvarez has been dealing with a strained muscle on the top of his hand, which is likely responsible for his poor start to the season. The left-handed Cuban slugger could easily bounce back with better health the rest of the way.

The Houston Astros are bringing in minor-league pitchers to face designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) on Friday before the team's contest at Daikin Park against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to manager Joe Espada. "That means that, once he's ready, we're not going to need a rehab assignment. That will be his way to check that box and be ready for games," Espada said. The Astros have been vague about Alvarez's potential timeline for a return from a muscle strain in his hand, but this news means that the 27-year-old All-Star could potentially rejoin the team as soon as early next week, depending on how he responds to facing live hitting. The Cuban slugger hasn't played since May 5, though, so don't be surprised if the Astros ease him back into the lineup when he comes off the injured list. Alvarez's hand injury likely contributed to his slow start (.210 average, three homers in 100 at-bats).

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) did baseball drills on the field on Friday and also hit off a pitching machine in the batting cage, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. When Alvarez first landed on the 10-day injured list on May 5, the team was hoping it would be a minimum stay. That hasn't been the case for the 27-year-old left-handed-hitting All-Star, but he appears to be making progress and could still skip a minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining the big-league squad. The three-time All-Star and Silver Slugger winner has likely been affected by a muscle strain in his hand for most of the season so far, which is why he's hit an uncharacteristically low .210 (21-for-100) with three homers, 18 RBI and seven runs scored before going on the IL. Despite his slow start, Alvarez needs to remain rostered in all fantasy formats.

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) said that his hand is "getting better," but he still feels it when he swings. Alvarez said he played with his hand hurting for "a while," but it reached a point where "I had to stop because the hand started getting inflamed." The 27-year-old All-Star is on the 10-day injured list with a muscle strain in his right hand, and it's unclear when he might return to the lineup despite being eligible to return from the IL. The Astros want to make sure that he is completely beyond the issue before activating him, so fantasy managers must remain patient. Alvarez's slow start in 2025 -- .210/.306/.430 slash line with three homers in 29 games -- makes a lot more sense now that we know he's been dealing with this issue for a while. Fantasy managers can only stay patient and hope that Alvarez can turn things around whenever he returns.

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) remains on the 10-day injured list and is out of the team's starting lineup for Thursday's divisional contest against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Catcher Victor Caratini will serve as the DH and will hit sixth against Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom. Although Alvarez was able to hit in the batting cage before Thursday's game, the Astros will keep the 27-year-old All-Star on the IL for another day as a precaution. He should be able to return to Houston's starting lineup at some point this weekend during the four-game set against Texas, though. When he does return, fantasy managers are hoping that the muscle strain in his hand is in the rearview mirror and he can start producing at the plate after a rough start with a .210/.306/.340 slash line in his first 100 at-bats in 2025.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) will not come off the 10-day injured list to rejoin the starting lineup on Tuesday night against the visiting Kansas City Royals. However, Alvarez is trending in the right direction and is expected to rejoin the club soon, possible for Thursday's series opener in Texas against the division-rival Rangers. The 27-year-old landed on the IL with a muscle strain in his right hand that could be the primary culprit for the three-time All-Star's slow start in 2025. Jose Altuve is serving as the DH on Tuesday, while Chas McCormick is making the start in left field and batting ninth against Royals left-hander Kris Bubic. Fantasy managers hope Alvarez can turn things around when he's back after starting with a .210/.306/.340 slash line and a .646 OPS in his first 100 at-bats.

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand), who is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, hit in the cages before Monday's series opener at Daikin Park against the Kansas City Royals, according to manager Joe Espada. Alvarez is on the IL with a muscle strain in his right hand, and while it's not considered overly serious, fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting him to be back in the lineup for Game 2 of the series against KC. However, the 27-year-old left-handed slugger could be back from the IL for the start of the team's road trip in Texas against the Rangers on Thursday. The three-time Cuban slugger hasn't looked like himself at the plate so far in 2025, perhaps because of his hand injury, slashing a weak .210/.306/.340 with an uncharacteristically low .646 OPS, three home runs, 18 RBI and seven runs in his 100 at-bats. Hopefully, Alvarez will be more productive when he returns.

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) is reportedly feeling better, but isn't ready to swing the bat yet, according to manager Joe Espada. Alvarez is currently on the injured list while he recovers from a muscle strain in his right hand. It seems unlikely at the moment that Alvarez will come off the injured list when first eligible. The 27-year-old still has a few more days to recover, but the fact he's not swinging a bat yet isn't a good sign. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Alvarez and hope he'll return in the next week or two. In the meantime, the Astros have been swapping different players at the designated hitter spot. That will likely remain the case until Alvarez returns.