Astros' Alvarez Faces New Setback in Injury Recovery

Houston Astros star Yordan Alvarez suffered a setback in his recovery from a right hand fracture, experiencing renewed soreness during his rehab in Florida, which led the team to shut down his activities and send him for further specialist testing. While general manager Dana Brown had initially hoped for Alvarez's return as early as the next homestand, the renewed symptoms have introduced greater uncertainty, and the team is awaiting a more definitive diagnosis. Alvarez has played just 29 games this season with atypically low offensive numbers before the injury. Fans have grown concerned amid a lack of clarity about his status and after last season's injury management issues with Kyle Tucker. Despite Alvarez's absence and other key injuries, the Astros continue to perform well and remain in playoff contention. The team's prospects could be further strengthened if Alvarez returns healthy for the second half of the season.