Yordan Alvarez leaves after stepping on home plate; Astros say left ankle sprain, MRI scheduled
Outfielder exited Monday’s game after rolling his ankle while scoring; team will image the injury Tuesday
Yordan Alvarez exited Monday night’s Houston Astros game after rolling his left ankle while crossing home plate, and the team announced he suffered a left ankle sprain and will undergo an MRI on Tuesday.
The injury occurred in the first inning of the game against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park. Alvarez was on first base when Carlos Correa hit a ball toward the infield and Rangers starter Jack Leiter committed a throwing error, allowing Alvarez to score from first. As he touched home plate, Alvarez appeared to slip and his left ankle rolled; he limped toward the dugout and was helped by Astros first baseman Christian Walker.
A team trainer and Astros manager Joe Espada quickly attended to Alvarez. He was assisted down the dugout steps and into the clubhouse. Rookie Zach Cole entered the lineup in Alvarez’s place.
Espada told reporters after the game that Alvarez would have an MRI on Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury. The team’s official injury announcement listed a left ankle sprain; no further timetable for return was provided.
The incident compounds a difficult season for Alvarez, who returned to the lineup Aug. 26 after missing 100 games with a broken right hand. Since his return, Alvarez had been productive at the plate, hitting .369 with an on-base percentage of .455 and a slugging percentage of .569 across 18 games.
Alvarez’s availability has implications for the postseason race. The Astros trailed the Seattle Mariners by one game in the American League West and held a two-game lead over the Rangers in the AL Wild Card standings entering the game. Houston’s upcoming schedule features the Rangers and Mariners over the next six games as the regular season approaches its conclusion.
The club provided no immediate projection for Alvarez’s recovery. The MRI results, expected after Tuesday’s imaging, will determine whether further tests or treatment are needed and will shape the Astros’ roster decisions heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
The Astros have not announced any changes to their lineup beyond Cole’s insertion. Manager Joe Espada and team medical staff were scheduled to provide updates following the MRI and subsequent evaluations.