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Houston Astros DH Yordan Alvarez may be out for the rest of 2020, according to manager Dusty Baker in a radio interview today.
Alvarez, the 2019 American League Rookie of the Year, started the season on the COVID-19 list. He played two games after being activated, then was placed on the regular injured list because of a knee issue. Neither the Astros nor Alvarez have specified what the knee issue is, though Alvarez apparently was dealing with knee problems last year, as well.
This would be just the latest blow in an injury-plagued season for the Astros, who likely are without Justin Verlander for the rest of the season, and who have lost several relievers to injuries. The Astros are 13-10, 2.5 games up on the Texas Rangers for the second place in the A.L. West, and 2.5 games back of Oakland for first place. The Rangers have not played well this year, but the Angels and Mariners have been worse, and the Astros problems have given the Rangers an opportunity to try to claim second place — good for a playoff spot in 2020 — if Texas can start playing better.