The Houston Astros are looking to stave off the Seattle Mariners in the AL West, and one way they could get some help is by activating injured superstar slugger Yordan Alvarez from the injured list.
He's been out for most of the year, and getting him back into the lineup would be a huge boon for the Astros. But there's a decision that will need to be made once Alvarez is back up with the MLB club.
As Matt Kawahara of The Houston Chronicle predicts, the Astros will be sliding Alvarez into one spot in the lineup every day once he's back and ready to go.
Where Does Alvarez Sit in Houston's Lineup?
The Astros slugger could slide into the designated hitter role, while also being a left fielder. But for Kawahara, there's a simpler solution that he predicts will happen once Alvarez is back up.
"Alvarez will likely see the majority of DH starts upon his return," Kawahara writes, "especially if he does not get any game reps in left field on his rehab assignment."
With Alvarez closing in on the final days of his rehab stint, focusing on where he plays is likely to clarify his role once he's back up in the Majors. If he doesn't suit up in left field, Alvarez will stick at designated hitter once he's healthy.
This would affect Jose Altuve, who's been partially manning the designated hitter spot this season. Altuve is likely to play every day, so he could take over for one of Cam Smith or Jesus Sanchez in the lineup.
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Alvarez's return is a great thing for the Astros, but it comes with side effects that'll hurt the playing time of some of the Astros' other options in outfield options.
They could also stick Altuve at second base, but his defense hasn't been the best, and Houston might not want to go with such a defense down the stretch. But getting the best lineup should be the priority, even at the expense of the defense.
Houston will have to make a difficult decision once he's back in the fold, but Alvarez's return to the MLB club is a huge boon regardless of the outcome of where he plays.
While he struggled with a .210 batting average before his hand injury, the Astros could still benefit greatly from his bat in the middle of their lineup.
Whatever Joe Espada and the Astros decide on, it's going to be a pivotal move down the stretch. With the Mariners hot on the Astros' tail, their lineup decisions once Alvarez is back will be key to staying ahead of their division rivals.
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