The Houston Astros can only hope life without Yordan Alvarez goes as well on Day 2 as it did on Day 1 when they seek a second consecutive victory over the visiting Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.
Having already missed 100 games with a fractured right hand, Alvarez slipped on home plate while scoring from first base on a first-inning infield single that led to a throwing error by Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter on Monday.
Alvarez limped noticeably to the dugout, had a hard time negotiating the downhill steps, then went to the clubhouse rather than back to left field when the Astros took the field for the second inning.
After Houston completed a 6-3 win, Alvarez waved off reporters en route to the exit, using crutches with his left foot in a boot. The Astros later announced he would have an MRI exam on Tuesday.
That not only puts into question his availability for the rest of the series — the three-game set wraps up Wednesday — but also potentially the three-game showdown with the Seattle Mariners beginning Friday in Houston.
The Astros (82-69) will take the field Tuesday a half-game behind the first-place Mariners (82-68) in the American League West. Houston in turn holds a three-game edge on the Rangers (79-72) in a multi-team duel for the final AL wild card.
The Astros proceeded seamlessly after Alvarez’s departure, moving Jesus Sanchez from right field to left field and inserting Zach Cole into right.
Both did a nice Alvarez impersonation. Cole contributed a two-run homer and an RBI single to the win, while Sanchez doubled, scored a run and gunned down Johah Heim at the plate trying to score the tying run in the seventh inning.
“That’s good managing there, putting that young man (Cole) in the lineup,” Astros manager Joe Espada said with a laugh at his postgame press conference. “Jesus Christ. He’s playing (Tuesday).”
If Sanchez returns to Alvarez’s outfield position in the Tuesday rematch, he would face a familiar rival in Texas’ Merrill Kelly (12-7, 3.21 ERA). The former National Leaguers have dueled 14 times, with Sanchez going just 2-for-12 with a home run.
Victor Caratini is 4-for-12 vs. Kelly, while Cole, who has played just four big-league games, has never seen the veteran right-hander.
Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in July, Kelly has gone 3-1 with a 3.19 ERA in eight starts since joining Texas. The Rangers won the past four games he started, including a 4-3, 12-inning victory over the Astros on Sept. 5, when Kelly allowed just one run in seven innings.
The 36-year-old has gone 0-1 despite a 0.93 ERA in three career starts against the Astros.
Another pitcher with lifetime success against his Tuesday opponent is Astros right-hander Cristian Javier (1-3, 4.78 ERA). He is 6-1 with a 3.71 ERA in 15 games, including 11 starts, vs. the Rangers.
The 28-year-old will be making just his seventh start of the season after missing more than a year due to Tommy John surgery. In his past two outings, he allowed four runs each time in losses to the New York Yankees on Sept. 4, when he was done after 4 1/3 innings, and the Toronto Blue Jays Thursday, when he lasted six innings.
With both teams missing key players at the worst possible time, including Texas’ middle-infield combination of Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy just hopes his team has the better depth.
“It’s important that everybody does something to help out,” he said. “Not just one or two guys. When you’re missing your core players, you’re looking for something to carry the weight. The young guys, the veterans … everybody is doing something to help win.”
–Field Level Media
