Cristian Javier

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez left Wednesday's game against the Miami Marlins with right hip tightness, the team announced.Astros manager Joe Espada and a trainer checked on Alvarez at first base following a second-inning single, but the slugger remained in the game until Trey Cabbage pinch hit for him in the fourth.The 27-year-old Alvarez has been banged up as of late. He was removed from a July 6 contest against the Minnesota Twins after he was hit in the right knee by a pitch. He then missed a game Sunday before returning to the lineup Tuesday.Alvarez has been one of the Astros' most potent hitters during their injury-riddled campaign. The Cuban was hitting .295/.378/.538 with 19 home runs and 50 RBIs entering Wednesday and was recently named an All-Star for a third time.Houston is already playing without Kyle Tucker and Victor Caratini. The Astros are also missing a number of their best pitchers, including Justin Verlander, Lance McCullers Jr., and Cristian Javier.Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown is looking at acquiring a starting pitcher ahead of the July 30 trade deadline to help bolster his club's battered rotation.Justin Verlander, Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, Jos Urquidy, and Lance McCullers Jr. have missed most or all of the Astros' season thus far due to injury. "We're gonna do whatever we gotta do," Brown told Brian LaLima of SportsTalk 790. "It takes two sides, but it has to make sense for the club. If not, we'll ask one of these young kids to step up."The Astros are currently rolling with a four-man rotation of Ronel Blanco, Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, and Spencer Arrighetti. Right-hander Jake Bloss is expected to return from a shoulder injury and start Thursday's game against the Miami Marlins.The Astros have climbed back into postseason contention after struggling through the first few months of the campaign. Houston owns a 47-44 record and trails the Seattle Mariners by two games for first place in the AL West.Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.