An aggressive slide into second base led to Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez exiting the game against the Los Angeles Angels due to a knee contusion on his right knee. After hitting a double in the third inning, Alvarez slid forcefully into second base to beat the throw and immediately displayed discomfort in his knee. There was no physical contact with any Angels player, suggesting that the injury may have resulted from his knee impacting the ground during the slide.
Following the injury, the Astros staff checked on Alvarez, and he attempted to walk off the field. Eventually, he managed to leave the field with caution under his own strength. Alvarez had a solid performance up to that point, going 2-for-2 with a double. Subsequently, Mauricio Dubon substituted for Alvarez.
Although the injury is not considered severe, further imaging will be necessary to assess his availability for the remaining days of the 2024 regular season.
Right Timing for the Astros’ Momentum
Houston is not in contention for a first-round bye, positioning them as the American League’s third seed, set to encounter the sixth seed. The Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals are deadlocked with an 82-74 record in the standings. Yet, the Royals have suffered eight defeats in their last ten games, while the Minnesota Twins trail closely behind by just a half-game. The Mariners are two games behind a Wild Card position.
Of the six AL teams currently on track for the postseason, the Astros possess the weakest record against teams with above .500 winning percentages, standing at 38-41. By comparison, the New York Yankees boast a 54-36 record against winning teams.
A notable weakness for the Astros lies in their centerfield play, as elucidated by ClutchPoints’ Andrew Meyers.
“The latter individual should be fit for the impending playoffs, yet this leaves Houston with a conundrum in at least one and possibly two outfield positions. Specifically, the center field has seen a combined .636 OPS from five players within the Astros, positioning them 25th in MLB.
“The Astros outfielders collectively hold a 1.2 bWAR. The season has been challenging without Tucker for a significant portion. Even with the presence of the three-time All-Star in the lineup, the Astros outfield has struggled offensively, hitting .229 collectively in the past week.”
If Alvarez is shifted to the DH position, it could leave the Astros more exposed, prompting a test of depth with Jake Meyers, Mauricio Dubon, and Jason Heyward.
With just six games remaining in the season, there is limited time for Alvarez to recover for the playoffs in case he misses game time due to the injury.
Image Source: Yordan Alvarez @ Instagram
