Jordan Alvarez is injured again.
The Astros power hitter has suffered a significant left ankle sprain, which is expected to keep him sidelined “for a while,” according to manager Joe Espada. “Let’s not dwell on that for days or weeks,” he remarked, adding that they are taking it one day at a time, but it will take a while to heal.
Alvarez, a three-time All-Star, injured his ankle while crossing home plate on Monday during the Astros’ 6-3 victory over the Rangers in the first inning.
He was supposed to undergo an MRI on his left ankle on Tuesday.
“It didn’t look good on the field,” Espada noted further.
Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena recalled seeing Alvarez at third base just before the incident, saying, “As he stepped into home, I had the front-row seat. His ankle twisted, and then it looked like it twisted again. It’s not pretty. You don’t want to see that, especially not with Jordan. We need him.”
Reportedly, Alvarez left Daikin Park using crutches and wearing a walking boot.
This latest setback comes less than a month after he returned from an extended absence due to a right-hand injury, having missed 100 games. In his 48 games this season, Alvarez has a batting line of .273/.367/.430 with six home runs. Since coming back on August 26, he has significantly boosted the Astros’ offense, achieving a .369/.462/.569 line over 78 plate appearances.
Throughout his seven-year career, Alvarez has been a standout hitter, but injuries have limited his participation, as he has managed to play in just a fraction of games available to him.
This injury is a tough blow for the Astros, who are tightly contested in the American League West. As of Tuesday, they’re just a half-game behind the Mariners in the division. Houston currently holds the final wild card spot, competing with the Rangers and Guardians.
