Alvarez’s knee lands him on injured list

Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez was placed on the injured list Tuesday, retroactive to Sunday, as he continues to suffer pain in his balky right knee.

Manager Dusty Baker said before the Astros’ Tuesday game against Colorado he planned to meet with Alvarez before the game, and his move to the injured list was announced less than two hours later.

“I’ve got a lot of concerns for Yordan,” Baker said. “He barely got back from the coronavirus, and now he’s going to get a second opinion (regarding his knee), and we’ll see what turns out from there.

“We’ve got an injury M*A*S*H unit out there, but these young kids want to play and prove what they can do, and they’re getting plenty of opportunities.”

Alvarez returned to the active roster for the first time this season Friday, when he delivered a towering three-run homer into the Crawford Boxes in his first at-bat.

On Saturday, he went from first to third and slid into the base after a Yuli Gurriel double. Alvarez then was scratched from the lineup Sunday with knee issues.

Baker said Monday an MRI of Alvarez’s knee revealed no damage, but the persistent soreness continues to cast doubt on whether the 2019 American League Rookie of the Year will be able to contribute consistently this year.

Alvarez hit 27 home runs in 87 games in 2019 but said in March he suffered from persistent knee pain throughout the season.

Baker said this week the pounding associated with outfield play would limit Alvarez to DH duties for the near future, and now the Astros once more will be without his bat for an undetermined period.

Infielder Taylor Jones was recalled from the Astros’ alternate training site to be in uniform for Tuesday’s game.