Yordan Alvarez is set to begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday, reporting to Double-A Corpus Christi as the designated hitter. The plan calls for a few rehab games before he rejoins the Astros, offering a potential jolt to a lineup that has missed its slugger since May. The return would come as Houston eyes a tighter grip in the AL West.

Alvarez’s injury saga began May 2 with a right-hand issue, later revealed to include a fracture after live batting practice. A protracted recovery included setbacks from inflammation and injections, with swing work resuming gradually. He participated in live at-bats at the Astros’ West Palm Beach facility and reappeared in Houston as he pressed toward rehab play.

The team also has Meyers and Paredes sidelined, increasing Alvarez’s eventual impact on the lineup. Meyers is building up to rehab, not far behind Alvarez, while Paredes has been out with an injury. Houston hopes Alvarez’s return, along with a healthy lineup, can sustain a late-season push in a competitive division race.

For fantasy managers, Alvarez’s ramp could unlock a clearer path to productive at-bats and run production, potentially reshaping the Astros’ top-to-bottom lineup order. Monitor the pace of his rehab and the team’s veteran presences as the season approaches its stretch run.

Josh Hader will seek a second medical opinion on his left shoulder strain after being placed on the 15-day IL, a move that will extend beyond two weeks and potentially reshape Houston’s late-inning strategy. Manager Joe Espada made clear there will be space for doctors to decide on surgery if needed. With Hader sidelined, the Astros face a bullpen shuffle and a need to lean on trusted veterans as they chase the AL West title.

Hader has been a standout since joining Houston, posting a 2.05 ERA with 28-for-29 saves and earning his sixth All-Star nod before this IL stint. He threw a season-high 36 pitches across two innings in his last outing and reported shoulder discomfort during pregame plyometrics. The injury compounds Houston’s recent lineup struggles, with Yordan Alvarez, Isaac Paredes and Jake Meyers also sidelined, placinga further burden on the pitching staff and the offense as the division race tightens.

The Astros have mixed durability and depth in their bullpen, with Bryan Abreu already serving as a prominent setup man and nine-time saves contributor among their relievers. Espada has not named a fill-in closer yet, signaling a committee approach until Hader’s status becomes clearer. The club’s injury list and the West-leading battle with Seattle add urgency to stabilizing the bullpen and lineup as they push toward the second half of the season.

Josh Hader landed on the injured list with a left shoulder strain, forcing Houston to lean on a bullpen committee in a tight win over Boston. In his absence, Espada deployed Enyel De Los Santos and Bennett Sousa in the ninth, with Sousa earning his fifth career save (and fourth this season) after facing one batter. Hader’s August workload has been light but effective, posting a 2.05 ERA and a 4.75 K:BB across multiple multi-inning appearances, a true closer’s backbone that Houston will miss as it fights to hold the AL West lead.

The Astros are also missing a slew of pieces—Isaac Paredes, Yordan Alvarez, Jake Meyers, and pitchers Ronel Blanco, Lance McCullers Jr., Luis García, and Hayden Wesneski—juicing the bullpen workload and widening the gap in a tight division race. Houston sits one game ahead of Seattle as July faded, with the Mariners 9-1 in a recent stretch while Houston has gone 5-5. With Hader out, Espada is likely to keep a committee approach with Abreu, King, and others stepping up in high-leverage spots, testing fantasy rosters that rely on late-inning wins and save opportunities.

Houston hosted a 7-6 thriller as three key Astros returns defined the night. Carlos Correa was back at Daikin Park, greeted with a standing ovation, and proceeded to contribute an RBI single after a brief first at-bat. Alex Bregman, visiting Houston for the first time since joining the Red Sox, belted a homer in his first plate appearance back in the city and added a single, flashing the power that keeps him in fantasy mix. Cristian Javier returned from Tommy John surgery, working five innings with five strikeouts and earning the win, signaling the Astros’ rotation depth is already trending in a favorable direction. The night underscored Houston’s mix of veteran leadership and young talent as they push for a playoff run, with Peña patrolling short and Correa sliding into third to cover for an injured Paredes.

Correa has been red-hot since the trade, slashing .390/.457/.585 across nine games for Houston and providing a floor-raising bat at the hot corner while keeping Peña at short. Bregman’s .301/.382/.541 with 15 homers in 74 games reinforces his value even amid a uniform change, while Javier’s return injects a reliable starter into Houston’s rotation. The mood and the box score carried a historic flavor too, with a trivia note about a rare road homer by a player who’d won multiple titles with his former team added as a backstory to the night. The result and the performances shape Houston’s rest-of-season outlook and fantasy implications alike.

Isaac Paredes, the Astros' promising third baseman, is set to embark on a rehabilitation journey for his severe right hamstring strain instead of opting for season-ending surgery. This injury occurred during a game against the Mariners on July 19, leaving fans and teammates hopeful for his return this season. Astros GM Dana Brown confirmed Paredes received a platelet-rich plasma injection, focusing on rest before progressive rehabilitation.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the long-term implications of avoiding surgery, the team has drawn encouragement from NFL players who have successfully recovered from similar injuries. Paredes is determined to return to the field, having shown positive spirits and commitment to his recovery plan. Currently, the Astros lead the AL West, underscoring the importance of Paredes' potential return as they make a playoff push.