Alvarez will start at designated hitter and bat second in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Just as manager Joe Espada had suggested would be the case Sunday, Alvarez will enter the lineup Monday for what will be his spring debut. Alvarez was limited to 48 games last season due to hand and ankle injuries, but when healthy, he's consistently performed as one of the top hitters in the game. Espada has previously referred to Alvarez as the Astros' everyday designated hitter heading into 2026, so the 28-year-old would seem likely to see even less exposure to left field than he has in past seasons as Houston looks to keep him healthy over the course of the campaign.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Thursday that Alvarez will make his Grapefruit League debut next week, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarez is being eased into game action this spring following last year's injury issues, but he is considered fully healthy. The Astros plan for the slugger to spend most of his time in the designated-hitter slot this season in hopes that it will help keep him healthy, but Alvarez should still see the occasional start in left field.

Alvarez will not make his spring debut until "a little bit later" due to normal buildup, per manager Joe Espada, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Carlos Correa and Christian Walker are slated to make their debuts Thursday, with Jose Altuve debuting Friday and Alvarez debuting sometime after that. Alvarez is discounted in fantasy drafts this year due to his injury issues in 2025, so it will be worth tracking how long his spring debut is delayed.

Alvarez (ankle) reported to spring training Sunday and announced that his is pain-free, Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 28-year-old dealt with a left ankle sprain late last year and dealt with some inflammation early in the offseason, but it appears he's entering spring training at 100 percent. Alvarez was limited to 48 games due to the ankle issue and a hand fracture, with his .273/.367/.430 slash line representing career lows in average and slugging percentage. The injury-plagued season ended a run of four straight 30-homer campaigns for the slugger, who is a popular rebound candidate in 2026. Alvarez is expected to see most of his action at designated hitter this season after making just 15 appearances in left field in 2025.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that he would like Alvarez (ankle) to "spend most of his season" at designated hitter, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarez started 32 games at DH and 15 in left field during his injury-shortened 2025 campaign, and Houston wants to limit his time in the field in hopes that it will help keep him healthy. While it makes sense for the Astros to do everything they can to keep Alvarez's bat in the lineup, it makes for a difficult lineup construction for Espada, especially when it comes to where Isaac Paredes (hamstring) slots in. Alvarez's 2025 season ended prematurely due to a severe left ankle sprain, but general manager Dana Brown said Monday that the slugger will be ready to go for the start of spring training.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Alvarez (ankle) will be "full go" for the start of spring training, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarez went down with a severe left ankle sprain late in the regular season. Brown said nearly a month ago that Alvarez had resumed jogging at roughly 70 percent intensity, and while it's unclear how much, if at all, the slugger has progressed with his running since then, Alvarez is not expected to be limited at the start of spring training. Additionally, manager Joe Espada added that his preference is for Alvarez to spend most of his time at designated hitter in 2026, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. The 28-year-old will remain an injury risk heading into the 2026 campaign, however, after being limited to only 48 contests in 2025, mostly due to a fracture in his right hand.

General manager Dana Brown said Wednesday that Alvarez (ankle) has begun jogging at roughly 70 percent intensity, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarez suffered a severe left ankle sprain during the final weeks of the regular season. Brown's comments indicate that the 28-year-old is coming along nicely in his recovery, and the GM added that he expects Alvarez to be ready to go by the start of spring training. The righty-hitting slugger also missed significant time in 2025 due to a fracture in his right hand and finished the season with just a .797 OPS across 199 plate appearances.

Alvarez said through an interpreter Sunday that he's progressing more quickly than expected in his recovery from a left ankle sprain, but he's not yet taking part in baseball activities and won't join the Astros for their season-ending six-game road trip during the upcoming week, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarez will finish his seventh big-league season with a .273/.367/.430 slash line to go with six home runs, one stolen base, 27 RBI and 17 runs in just 48 games, as a small right hand fracture cost him significant time before he sprained his ankle in this past Monday's win over the Rangers. Houston isn't yet ruling Alvarez out from contributing during a potential postseason run, but a timeline for his return won't be mapped out until he starts swinging a bat and running the bases again. According to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Alvarez has resumed walking with a protective boot on his left foot, but he said that he needs to wait for the swelling in his ankle to subside before he's able to take part in baseball activities.

The Astros placed Alvarez (ankle) on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Sept. 16, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarez suffered a significant left ankle sprain earlier this week, and he'll officially be placed on the injured list Friday. The move opens up a spot on the active roster for Isaac Paredes (hamstring), who's coming off the IL. Alvarez will be eligible to return Sept. 26, which coincides with the start of Houston's final regular-season series. It's unclear if he'll be healthy enough to play before the end of the regular season, but manager Joe Espada said on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXMFriday that Alvarez's ankle is "getting better."

Manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Alvarez has a "pretty significant" left ankle sprain and will be "out for a while," though the Astros won't be placing him on the injured list, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The description of the injury makes it sound as though Alvarez won't be retaking the field anytime soon, but Houston apparently doesn't feel the need to place the slugger on the IL with the expanded rosters for September. Should the Astros change their mind and backdate an IL move, Alvarez could be reinstated as early as Sept. 26. Regardless of the 28-year-old's roster status, Alvarez won't be back in the lineup for Houston in the immediate future.