Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez Playing With Virus, But Dusty Baker Questions 'What Is Sick?'

"I mean, what is sick? No, I'm serious. I'm not being a smarty," Astros manager Dusty Baker said. "He's fine."

HOUSTON — The Houston Astros' lineup is not at full strength.

Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, who bats third, is battling a virus, according to The Athletics' Ken Rosenthal.

Alvarez is in the Astros lineup for Game 2 at 3:37 p.m. Monday at Minute Maid Park. He was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a soft groundout to first in the Texas Rangers' 2-0 Game 1 win Sunday night.

Rosenthal reports that Alvarez is suffering from an upset stomach and headaches. The designated hitter did not take part in Houston's pre-game introductions before the national anthem Sunday.

Alvarez had 31 home runs and 97 RBI while batting .293 during the regular season. He has 10 homers and 32 RBI in 184 career postseason at-bats, including four homers and seven RBI in the 2023 postseason.

Rangers' starter Jordan Montgomery struck him out in his first three at-bats Sunday — the first pitcher to strike him out three times in a game — and Aroldis Chapman got him to tap out to first in the eighth inning. He left two of Houston's 10 runners on base, including one in scoring position.

Jordan Montgomery faced Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez three times tonight.

Bottom 1st - K
Bottom 3rd - K
Bottom 5th - K

Montgomery: "He's a really good power hitter, a really good hitter in general... just tried to mix it up, and do a little bit of everything." pic.twitter.com/Q5He80iGZF

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) October 16, 2023

The best-of-seven series moves to Globe Life Field in Arlington beginning with Game 3 at 7:07 p.m. Wednesday.

"The reports about him having a virus, I got a virus, everybody got a virus," Astros manager Dusty Baker said. "So he's fine. He's better today than he was yesterday."

Baker's off-handed remark at Monday's pre-game press conference prompted a follow-up on his health and the health of his team.

"Yeah, my allergies are bothering me, yeah, like I said. I mean, what is sick? No, I'm serious. I'm not being a smarty," he said. "He's fine. He's better today than he was yesterday. And like I was telling somebody [Sunday], as a responsible man, a family man, you go to work, you know? And I never saw my dad in the bed ever sick, and I'm sure he was sick. And sometimes as a man you just go to work."

The Astros’ Yordan Alvarez is dealing with a virus, sources tell me and @Chandler_Rome. Upset stomach, headaches. Was not part of intros last night.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 16, 2023

'It’s a gift that God gave him'

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.