As the Houston Astros get ready for their Tuesday afternoon Game 1 American League Wild Card series opener against the Detroit Tigers, Yordan Alvarez remains a focal point. Alvarez has been spending time in Houston, working out and trying to get back from a right knee sprain.
There’s no doubt that Alvarez brings a measure of power to the Astros’ lineup. He also has been an integral part in previous postseason appearances for the organization. Now, though, Astros manager Joe Espada and Alvarez’s teammates need him to be ready.
Houston Astros Work On Roster
All that would be shared about the Houston Astros‘ slugger is that Alvarez worked out with the team at Minute Maid Park on Monday. As of Monday afternoon, it’s reportedly a 50-50 chance that Alvarez will be part of the team’s AL Wild Card series roster. Espada, according to MLB.com, said that Alvarez was going to take some swings in the batting cage. It also was expected that Alvarez would get some running work in the outfield.
But eagle-eyed followers of the Astros did not see Alvarez out with his teammates. They took part in a pre-series workout on Monday themselves. Because of his knee issues, it’s highly improbable that Alvarez would play in the outfield. Look for Mauricio Dubón and Jason Heyward to split time in the outfield if this happens. Dubón will face left-handed pitchers while Heyward goes up against right-handers.
Also, it’s expected that outfielder Chas McCormick, who has been out of the Astros lineup with a hand injury, will be ready to go on Tuesday afternoon. Everything kicks off on Tuesday at 3:32 p.m. Eastern. Game 1 of the AL Wild Card series will be shown on ABC.
Las Vegas Loves Tigers’ Chances
The Detroit Tigers are getting some attention from the “wise guys” in Las Vegas. They believe that Detroit has a shot at beating the Houston Astros in a short series. The AL Wild Card series is in a best-of-three setup. All three games, if it goes that far, will be played in Houston.
“They’re definitely a danger in any short series, so I wouldn’t count them out at all,” Caesars lead baseball trader Eric Biggio said, The Associated Press reported on Monday.
Detroit is going to send out Tarik Skubal, who is not to be ignored at all, as its Game 1 starter. Framber Valdez goes for the Houston Astros, looking to round back into postseason form. Valdez has had issues this season when not getting his curveball or slider over to opposing hitters. When he has those two pitches working, though, Valdez is tough to hit against.
Valdez Set For Game 1 Start
Does Espada believe in Valdez, who finished the regular season with a 15-7 record? “I expect Framber to go out there and perform the way Framber has performed this entire second half,” Espada said, according to MLB.com reporter Brian McTaggart on Monday. “He’s one of the best pitchers in the league and he wants the ball. I expect him to go out there tomorrow and give us a great start.”
Valdez has memories of his performance in the 2023 postseason for the Astros, memories that he’d like to change starting on Tuesday. “Being No. 1 when you start a playoff game for your team, obviously it means something to me and I take a lot of pride and I’m very excited and full of pride and ready to go,” Valdez said through an interpreter.
Houston Astros fans know, of course, that A.J. Hinch, the team’s former manager, leads Detroit into the playoffs. Hinch managed the Astros when they won the World Series in 2017, a title that has been tainted due to the Astros’ cheating scandal.
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