Astros Activate All-Stars Altuve, Alvarez from Injured List

The Houston Astros have back two of their top hitters for Wednesday's game with the Texas Rangers.

The Houston Astros got two of their biggest stars back for Wednesday’s game with the Texas Rangers, as they activated outfielder Yordan Alvarez and second baseman Jose Altuve, per multiple reports.

Astros fans were on watch for the pair after both general manager Dana Brown and manager Dusty Baker hinted on Tuesday that the pair could return from the injured list.

To make room, the Astros optioned Bligh Madris and David Hensley.

Plus, Altuve made it clear to MLB.com that he did not want to go on a rehab stint.

“I’m ready to play here,” Altuve said. “I really miss playing with my teammates, so I think we’re going to go straight to games.”

Alvarez did not speak to the media on Tuesday.

Both Alvarez and Altuve went through pre-game drills at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, the second time the pair did so. But neither was activated, with Brown and Baker both saying a final evaluation of the pair would come when they arrived at the ballpark on Wednesday.

Alvarez wrapped up an injury rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday. He hit .333 in three rehab games, two of which he played at designated hitter and one of which he played in left field.

During the stretch he recorded his 100th career Triple-A RBI.

Alvarez was batting .277/.388/.589/.978 with 17 home runs and 55 RBI. The Astros placed Alvarez on the 10-day injured list with right oblique discomfort on June 9.

The Astros scratched Altuve from a start on July 4 after he injured himself during batting practice. Two days later the Astros placed Altuve on the 10-day injured list with left oblique discomfort.

He missed the start of the season with surgery on his fractured right thumb, an injury that occurred during the World Baseball Classic.

Altuve returned on May 19 and, aside from a short break from June 3-6 due to a minor setback, he’s played nearly every day. That setback was an oblique injury.

Altuve is batting .264 with six home runs and 18 RBI this season.

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