Houston Astros designated hitter/outfielder Yordan Alvarez had a huge game at the plate in Monday's 12-2 rout of the Brewers. Alvarez went 3-for-4 with a single, a solo home run, a grand slam, and a walk. The 25-year-old has performed as expected for fantasy managers, slashing .305/.399/.616 with 12 HR and 46 RBI in 178 plate appearances. He should be in fantasy managers' lineups at all times and is in line to be a top fantasy hitter once again this season.

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a strikeout in a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. Alvarez put the Astros on the board in the top of the first inning with a 417-foot bomb to center field off Angels' starter Griffin Canning. It was his only hit of the contest but it proved to be the difference in a one-run ball game. For the season, the 25-year-old slugger is slashing .283/.388/.558 with eight home runs and 34 RBI over 113 at-bats. Houston kicks off a three-game set with the White Sox on the road starting on Friday.

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (neck) is back in the lineup on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies. The 25-year-old masher has missed the last four games with neck discomfort but he's back out there as the designated hitter, batting third. It's an encouraging sign that the team felt comfortable enough to insert him back into the lineup so it appears the neck issue is behind him. Alvarez is rocking a .253/.367/.533 triple-slash line to go along with six home runs and 27 RBI across 75 at-bats.

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (neck) remains out of the starting lineup on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies. Alvarez has been dealing with a lingering neck injury and hasn't played since last Sunday. If the 25-year-old left-handed slugger isn't able to return at some point this weekend against the Phillies, there's a good chance he'll go on the injured list. Injuries have been an issue for the All-Star, but when he's healthy, there aren't many better hitters in baseball. In his first 90 plate appearances in 2023 over 20 games, Alvarez is hitting .253 (19-for-75) with three doubles, six home runs and 27 RBI. He's a must-start when he's active. Corey Julks is in left field and is hitting sixth on Friday, while Rylan Bannon is serving as the DH and batting eighth against Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola.

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (neck) is out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The left-handed slugger will miss his third game in a row due to neck discomfort. At this point, it seems likely that Alvarez is going to be placed on the injured list. In the meantime, David Hensley will serve as the designated hitter and bat eighth against right-hander Calvin Faucher.

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (neck) is once again absent from the club's starting lineup Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. His absence isn't a surprise, considering Astros skipper Dusty Baker told the media earlier on Tuesday that Alvarez's neck "is about the same," and he was sent back to Houston for additional testing. Alvarez is sure to miss the remainder of the series with the Rays, and an injured list stint isn't out of the question at this point. The power-hitting outfielder is off to a nice start this season, hitting .253 with six homers and a .900 OPS across 20 games. Corey Julks will once again take over in left field while David Hensley gets the starting nod at designated hitter against Rays righty Drew Rasmussen.

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker said on Sports Talk 790 on Tuesday that outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (neck) is "about the same as yesterday," and the team is awaiting word from their doctors about what is next. Alvarez didn't play on Monday and was sent back to Houston to be checked out after first feeling neck discomfort a week ago. At this point, it's unlikely that Alvarez will play in the series against the Tampa Bay Rays, and there's a very real chance he'll need to go on the injured list. Fantasy managers should prepare for that possibility. With the 25-year-old slugger out on Monday, Corey Julks played left field and Yainer Diaz was the designated hitter. In 20 games so far this year, Alvarez has gone 19-for-75 (.253) with three doubles, six home runs and 27 RBI. Hopefully, he can avoid an IL stint.

Updating a previous post, Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (neck) is out of Monday's starting lineup against the Tampa Bay Rays due to neck discomfort. The Astros have sent him back to Houston to be examined, and it's unclear if he'll need a stint on the injured list or if he'll be available during the current series in Tampa. Manager Dusty Baker said the 25-year-old left-handed slugger has been dealing with a neck issue for the last week, so fantasy managers need to prepare for a possible trip to the IL. Corey Julks and David Hensley would both see more playing time if Alvarez is forced to miss extended time. Keep him stashed in all leagues in the meantime. Alvarez is currently hitting .253 (19-for-75) with three doubles, six home runs, 27 RBI and 14 runs scored in his first 20 games.

Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez (rest) is out of the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. This appears to be nothing more than a routine rest day for the left-handed slugger. Alvarez is well deserving of a day off after what he has done at the plate early in the season. He's slashing .253/.367/.533 with six homers and 27 RBI in 20 games. In his absence, Corey Julks will cover left field, while Yainer Diaz serves as the designated hitter against right-hander Taj Bradley.

The 2023 MLB season is underway and as always, injuries are beginning to pile up. Today we'll look at injured hitters including Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander, Corbin Burnes, Robbie Ray, and Trevor May. Searching the waiver wire for fill-in pitchers is already a key aspect of fantasy baseball, so finding replacements for players out of action isn't too much different.For those not yet familiar, this is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for pitchers as of April 20, 2023. We'll be covering all positions throughout the week, so stay tuned. Some players on this list impact fantasy baseball more than others, but with leagues of all shapes and sizes, you never know which guys will force fantasy managers to search waiver wires in hopes of finding adequate replacements.To keep close tabs on all of the news across the MLB, make sure to favorite or bookmark the ... [More]

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (ankle) is back in the starting lineup on Wednesday, serving as the designated hitter while batting third in the order against the Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander Jose Berrios. Alvarez twisted his ankle on Tuesday late in the game but is back in there as the DH a day later. David Hensley is getting the start in left field and is batting seventh for the Astros. Coming into Wednesday's contest, Alvarez is slashing .276/.394/.534 with a .929 OPS, four home runs, a league-leading 21 RBI and 11 runs scored in his first 16 games of 2023. Left hand soreness was an issue for the 25-year-old left-handed slugger in spring training, but it's in the rearview mirror now. Get him back into your lineups.

The 2023 MLB season is underway and as always, injuries are beginning to pile up. Today we'll look at injured hitters including Yordan Alvarez, Michael Harris II, Amed Rosario, Jose Siri and Josh Donaldson. Baseball season is a marathon and not a race, so finding replacements for players out of action is key for fantasy baseball success.For those not yet familiar, this is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for hitters as of April 19, 2023. We'll be covering all positions throughout the week, so stay tuned. Some players on this list impact fantasy baseball more than others, but with leagues of all shapes and sizes, you never know which guys will force fantasy managers to search waiver wires in hopes of finding adequate replacements.To keep close tabs on all of the news across the MLB, make sure to favorite or bookmark the fantasy baseball player news page, and download the free ... [More]

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (ankle) looked to turn his left ankle a bit on a swing on Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays and was pulled from the contest early in the eighth inning. Alvarez started the game in left field and went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk in the contest before departing with his injury. It's unknown exactly how serious his ankle injury is, but for now, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day until we know more. The 25-year-old Cuban slugger came into Tuesday's game hitting .273 (15-for-55) with three doubles, four home runs, a league-leading 20 RBI and 11 runs scored in 15 games. Hopefully for fantasy managers, Alvarez can return soon and avoid a trip to the injured list.

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It looks like Alvarez is getting a normal day of rest in the series finale against the Pirates in a matinee affair. The 25-year-old left-handed slugger dealt with some left hand soreness in spring training, but it hasn't seemed to affect him early in the 2023 season. He's hitting .300 (12-for-40) with two doubles, three home runs, 16 RBI and eight runs scored in his first 11 games played. With Alvarez out on Wednesday, Corey Julks got the nod in left field and is hitting seventh in the batting order against Pirates left-hander Rich Hill. The 27-year-old Julks has eight hits in hist first 29 major-league at-bats and is still searching for his first home run.

Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez is back in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Detroit Tigers. The left-handed slugger received a routine rest day on Sunday. The Astros want to be cautious with their big power bat after an abbreviated spring training. Alvarez is off to an excellent start to the season. He's hitting .455 with one home run and five RBI in three games. He'll bat third and cover left field against left-hander Matthew Boyd on Monday.

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said on Thursday that outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) won't play every day to start the 2023 regular season. Alvarez is starting in left field and is hitting third in the batting order on Opening Day on Thursday against right-hander Dylan Cease and the Chicago White Sox, but he'll be eased into action after missing most of spring training with soreness in his left hand. The Astros would prefer to have the 25-year-old left-handed slugger healthy all year, and it makes sense for them to play it safe with star second baseman Jose Altuve (thumb) already sidelined. Alvarez needs to be in all starting fantasy lineups on Thursday.

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) is starting in left field and hitting leadoff in his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday against the Washington Nationals and right-hander Trevor Williams. Alvarez has yet to play in a game this spring due to lingering soreness in his left hand, which is also something he dealt with in 2022. The 25-year-old left-handed slugger is still expected to be ready for Opening Day on March 30, but it's possible he could get off to a slow start at the plate. Still, despite the delay this spring, he remains a first-round pick in fantasy drafts after hitting .296/.384/.590 with a .973 OPS, 98 home runs and 283 RBI in his first four major-league seasons.

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday, according to manager Dusty Baker. Alvarez has yet to play in a spring game while battling through left hand soreness in camp, but he's ready to go now and should be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback once he gets into a game setting. The 25-year-old left-handed slugger is one of the most dangerous hitters in the league when he's healthy, but fantasy managers have to be a bit more skeptical about taking him in the top 10 in the first round of drafts after he dealt with soreness in both of his hands last year as well. If he looks like his normal self this weekend in Grapefruit League games, it would ease a lot of concerns.

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) is scheduled to take on-field batting practice on Friday, according to manager Dusty Baker. It's the first time that Alvarez will take on-field batting practice this spring. Alvarez has been held out of spring action due to a sore left hand, which is something he also dealt with in 2022. However, the Astros still expect him to be ready for Opening Day at the end of March. It's still a bit concerning for fantasy managers, though, and it's something to keep an eye on once the 2023 regular season begins. But when healthy, the 25-year-old left-handed slugger can be a beast at the plate and should be considered a top-10 fantasy selection in upcoming drafts.

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) hit soft toss again on Sunday and felt good. Alvarez resumed swinging on Saturday and is expected to be ready for Opening Day, barring any setbacks with his sore left hand. It's been a little concerning for Alvarez, considering he dealt with soreness in both of his hands last year, too. It remains to be seen when he'll get into a Grapefruit League game, but for now, fantasy managers should still consider him in the first round of drafts as one of the best all-around hitters in the game.