(Photo credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images)

Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez is out indefinitely with a 'pretty significant' left ankle sprain, manager Joe Espada said Tuesday.

'This is going to keep him out for a while,' Espada said. 'Let's not get into days, weeks, any of that. We are going to take one day at a time, but this is going to take some time to heal.'

Alvarez suffered the injury during Monday's win versus the Texas Rangers after he appeared to slip while crossing home plate in the first inning. He was seen leaving the team's clubhouse with a crutch and a boot on his left foot.

Alvarez underwent an MRI on Tuesday.

The timing of the injury couldn't be worse for the Astros, who find themselves in the middle of a tight race for AL West supremacy with just 11 games remaining. Houston sits a half-game back of the Seattle Mariners, who have won nine straight contests. The Astros are currently three games ahead of the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians, who have won four straight contests, for the last AL wild-card spot.

Alvarez's ankle sprain marks yet another setback in an injury-marred campaign for the slugger. He's only played in 48 games this season after missing 101 earlier this year due to a fractured right hand. The three-time All-Star is hitting .273 with six home runs and 27 RBIs in 2025.

'We need him in there, but those are the things that we can't control,' Espada said of Alvarez. 'It's a freak accident that happens on a baseball field, and that's not what we need right now. But we do have guys here that understand the situation that we're in. We've got talent. We've got guys that want it. We've got guys that can fight and get us through this stretch.'

--Field Level Media