Yordan Alvarez returns from a fractured hand to anchor Houston’s lineup as injuries sap the Astros’ depth. Since his late-August return, Alvarez is batting .386 with 3 homers and 9 RBIs, while drawing scant strikeouts, underscoring his role as the club’s lone consistent force. Houston remains in the AL West race with Seattle and Texas, but the postseason hinges on more bats heating up; last year’s exit to Detroit serves as a stark reminder that the margin for error is thin.