It’s a huge win for the Astros that the injury wasn’t more severe. But it’s also brutal timing given that the team is in the midst of a three-game series against its division rival Seattle Mariners.

Houston needs just one win over Seattle to clinch the AL West title, but lost Monday’s series opener without Alvarez in the lineup.

Espada did mention that Alvarez could return for the Astros’ final series against the Cleveland Guardians. That bodes well for Alvarez’s chances to get healthy in time for the postseason.

However, Astros fans haven’t forgotten how long it took Kyle Tucker to return from what was initially labeled a shin contusion.

Tucker missed nearly three months recovering from what many first assumed was a relatively minor injury. With their team on the cusp of securing a playoff berth, Astros supporters are surely hoping the same thing doesn’t happen to Alvarez.