Astros Announce Yordan Alvarez News After Leaving Cubs Game

The Houston Astros have not had the season they expected. They entered Saturday with a 21-31 record, sitting 10 games under the .500 mark.

Even with the team's issues, Yordan Alvarez has been their brightest spot. Through his first 52 appearances, he has posted a .303 batting average, .416 on-base percentage, 1.017 OPS, 15 home runs and 31 RBIs.

He is once again performing like one of the best hitters in baseball and is positioning himself for a fourth career All-Star selection. His production could even put him in the early mix for American League MVP, an award he has been in the conversation for multiple times during his eight seasons in Houston.

The Astros entered Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs shorthanded. Carlos Correa is out for the season after undergoing surgery in his left ankle, and Jose Altuve is currently on the 10-day injured list with an oblique injury.

That left Alvarez as one of the longest tenured players in the lineup. Unfortunately, Alvarez did not finish the game. Ahead of his at bat in the top of the sixth inning, he was seen speaking with manager Joe Espada and a trainer after feeling discomfort while swinging in the on-deck circle. H

e still stepped in for his third plate appearance, but after seeing two pitches, Espada and the trainer checked on him again. This time, they removed him from the game. Zach Dezenzo entered as the designated hitter and completed the at-bat.

The Astros later provided an update on his condition. "Yordan Alvarez has left today's game due to a back spasm," the team wrote on X.

Yordan Alvarez has left today's game due to a back spasm.

— Houston Astros (@astros) May 23, 2026

If Alvarez ends up needing a stint on the injured list, it would deal a major blow to Houston's hopes of climbing back into contention and would further increase the chances the team sells at the trade deadline.

In 2025, he appeared in only 48 games due to a fractured right hand and a sprained left ankle, and without him the Astros missed the postseason for the first time since 2016. His status will be monitored closely, and Houston can only hope this setback is not serious.

Related: Astros' Joe Espada Shares Hunter Brown Injury Update on Friday

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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 3:43 PM.