ESPN News Services
Sep 16, 2025, 05:42 PM ET
Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has been diagnosed with a "significant" left ankle sprain and will be out of the lineup "for a while" as Houston battles for a division title and an American League playoff spot as the season winds down, manager Joe Espada said Tuesday.
Espada would not give a timetable for the return of Alvarez, who continues to be on the active roster.
"This is going to take some time," Espada told reporters. "One day at a time. I'm not going to give you days, weeks, what we're going to do next."
Alvarez, who underwent an MRI on Tuesday, suffered the injury while crossing home plate during Monday's victory against the Texas Rangers. He was seen leaving the Astros clubhouse on a crutch and with a boot on his left foot.
The All-Star appeared to slip as he crossed the plate in the first inning, scoring from first base on a throwing error by Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter on Carlos Correa's infield single. Alvarez was tended to by an athletic trainer outside the Astros' dugout and then helped down the steps.
Alvarez is batting .273 with six home runs and 27 RBIs but has been limited to 48 games because of a fractured right hand that forced him to sit out 101 games.
Entering Tuesday, Houston is a half-game behind the Seattle Mariners in the AL West. The Astros are three games ahead of Cleveland Guardians and Texas for the final AL wild-card spot.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
