Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez's setback not as serious as first feared, GM says
Alvarez, who suffered the injury on May 2, was shut down after experiencing pain in his right hand. He had taken some swings at the team's spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday and when he arrived there on Tuesday the area was sore.
He was examined by a specialist, who determined inflammation was the issue and not a setback with the fracture.
'It had nothing to do with the fracture, or the fracture not being healed,' Brown said before Houston's game at Colorado. 'The fracture at this point is a non-factor, which we're very glad about. And so during the process of him being examined by the specialist, we saw the inflammation, and Yordan did receive two shots in that area.'
Alvarez first experienced issues with his hand in late April but stayed in the lineup. He was initially diagnosed with a muscle strain but a small fracture was discovered at the end of May.
Brown said there has not been an update on the timetable for Alvarez's return but said with the latest update it 'could be in the near future.'
'Yordan is going to be in a position where he's going to let rest and let the shot take effect, and then as long as he's starting to feel better, we'll put a bat in his hand before we start hitting, but we'll just let him feel the bat feels like,' Brown said. 'And then we'll get into some swings in the near future, but I felt like it was encouraging news. Now, with this injection into the area that was inflamed, we feel a lot better.'
Alvarez, who averaged 34 home runs over the previous four seasons, has just three in 29 games this year and is batting .210. He was the 2021 ALCS MVP for the Astros and finished third in the AL MVP voting for 2022.
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New York Times
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Kyrie Irving Picks Kevin Durant Over LeBron James And Luka Doncic As Best Teammate Ever originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Kyrie Irving has played alongside some of the most talented players in NBA history, yet when asked to name the best teammate he has ever had, his answer was swift and emphatic: Kevin Durant. Speaking on his stream, Irving delivered high praise for the Houston Rockets star, saying: "I will say this the 7-eleven duo of me and KD will never be topped in terms of just being on a court with somebody that special, right? So let me get that disclaimer out. All right, let me get that disclaimer." "I've played with a lot of great players, but playing with KD, it was OD. All right, he's one of the best of all time. Obviously, we all have our strengths and weaknesses." The comment is striking not only for the level of reverence Irving shows for Durant but also for the notable names it leaves out. Irving spent three memorable seasons with LeBron James on the Cleveland Cavaliers, a partnership that produced the 2016 NBA championship and one of the greatest comebacks in Finals history. LeBron and Kyrie's time together was defined by high drama and high stakes, culminating in the now-iconic Game 7 victory over the Golden State Warriors. Their chemistry, particularly in clutch moments, became a defining image of that championship run. Irving also shared the court with Luka Doncic in Dallas, where the duo reached the NBA Finals in 2024. While their partnership was relatively short-lived, it brought a blend of offensive creativity and big-game moments that energized Mavericks fans. Luka's ball dominance and Kyrie's off-ball scoring ability complemented each other well, though the pairing ultimately fell short of delivering a championship. Injuries, inconsistent supporting casts, and stiff competition stood in their way. By contrast, Irving's time with Kevin Durant in Brooklyn was a rollercoaster of expectations, adversity, and ultimately underachievement. The two were meant to headline one of the most dangerous scoring tandems in league history, but off-court controversies, health issues, and roster instability prevented them from advancing past the second round of the playoffs. Still, Irving's comments suggest that the on-court magic they shared left a lasting impression that even championship runs with LeBron or a Finals berth with Luka couldn't surpass. From a pure basketball perspective, Irving's praise makes sense. Durant's combination of size, shooting touch, and scoring versatility is virtually unmatched in NBA history. Playing alongside a player who can score from anywhere, against any defender, while drawing constant double teams, likely gave Irving a level of freedom and efficiency he didn't experience to the same extent with other stars. Even if their time together failed to produce postseason glory, the artistry and ease of their on-court synergy clearly resonated with him. For fans, the remark will inevitably stir debates about what defines a 'best teammate', is it winning titles, personal chemistry, or pure talent? For Kyrie Irving, the answer appears to be the latter. While LeBron and Luka helped him achieve more team success, it was Durant's unique blend of skill and presence that earned the top spot in his mind. And in typical Kyrie fashion, the choice will likely keep NBA circles buzzing for weeks to story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
