Astros Give Encouraging Update on Alvarez Return

Per AT&T Sports Net Southwest, Alvarez was running the bases, among other baseball activities. The Athletic reported that Alvarez would not be speaking with reporters on Monday.

Later, Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters that Alvarez is "very close" and that he could be activated either Tuesday or Wednesday. Alvarez is not playing in a rehab game on Monday because Triple-A Sugar Land is off.

Alvarez wrapped up an injury rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday. He hit .333 in three rehab games, two of which he played at designated hitter and one of which he played in left field.

During the stretch he recorded his 100th career Triple-A RBI.

Alvarez was not in the Sugar Land lineup on Sunday, which wrapped up a week-long series with Albuquerque.

The Astros just returned from a three-city, nine-game road trip that kicked off the second half of the season. The Astros went 6-3 on the road trip, including taking three out of four from Oakland to wrap up the trip.

Houston enters Monday’s game three games behind Texas in the American League West.

Alvarez was batting .277/.388/.589/.978 with 17 home runs and 55 RBI. The Astros placed Alvarez on the 10-day injured list with right oblique discomfort on June 9.

The Astros had hoped to have Alvarez back a bit sooner, as he was poised to start a rehab assignment the weekend after the All-Star Break. But, a head cold set him back a few days before he could start his rehab assignment on Wednesday.