There is no perfect time to lose the best player on any team. The Houston Astros may have come as close as possible with Yordan Alvarez.
Alvarez had been battling issues with his hand over the past few weeks as he missed a few games back in June. While he was able to return, his hand woes has gotten progressively worse. Now, according to Julia Morales of ATT SportsNet SW, he is heading to the Injured List.
Houston Astros time Yordan Alvarez IL stint perfectly
He is a major loss for the lineup. Alvarez had posted a stellar .306/.405/.653 batting line in his 316 plate appearances before landing on the IL, hitting 26 homers and 11 doubles. His .653 slugging percentage and 1.058 OPS lead the majors while he ranks in the top three in the American League in runs, homers, on base percentage, RBI, and bWAR.
However, if there is ever a time to lose a player such as Alvarez, this may be it. The All Star Game will take place during his time on the IL, and the subsequent break will add to his time off without impacting the Astros on the diamond. While they will miss him for seven games, that extra time off should make a difference.
That appears to be the Astros’ hope as well. According to Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle, the Astros are hoping that they can get Alvarez back in time for their series with the Yankees, which takes place immediately after the All Star Break. The Astros’ best case scenario could happen after all.
The Houston Astros have placed Yordan Alvarez on the Injured List. While his loss hurts the lineup, the timing actually works out fairly well with the upcoming All Star Break.