MLB Player News

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and walk in Friday's 5-4 victory over the Rays.

The slugger was the first to break through against Chris Archer, tagging him for a 435-foot solo shot in the second that cut the Rays' 2-0 lead in half. The blast represented Alvarez's first RBI since Sept. 6, and the homer was his second of September. After a solid August in which he slashed .297/.357/.641, Alvarez is hitting just .222 over his first 27 at-bats this month, but his three doubles and pair of round-trippers have played a large part in his .556 slugging percentage.

Longoria went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Orioles.

The veteran slugger took Ubaldo Jimenez deep in the first to open the scoring on the night, his 34th round-tripper on the season. Although he's only hitting .222 overall in 63 September at-bats, he's tallied three straight multihit efforts and has gone 5-for-9 with two home runs and seven RBI over the first two games of the current series versus the Orioles. His home-run total is a career high, while his 93 RBI represent his best number in that category since 2011.

Bregman (hamstring) may be shut down for the remainder of the season, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Friday that Bregman would have immediately been placed on the DL if his injury occurred in any month but September, which obviously does not bode well for the top prospect's chances at getting back on the field this season. Yulieski Gurriel is the logical stopgap at third while Bregman is sidelined, but losing Bregman is a crushing blow to the Astros overall. Bregman got off to a famously slow start at the dish upon arriving to the show, but he slashed .319/.362/.639 with eight home runs and 28 RBI in his last month's worth of games.

Bregman (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Mariners.

As expected, Bregman will sit out Friday's game and possibly the entire weekend as he receives treatment on his injured hamstring. Yulieski Gurriel will take at third base Friday and bat second in the order against Felix Hernandez.

Bregman (hamstring) is not expected to be with the team this weekend in Seattle, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Bregman left Wednesday's game with right hamstring discomfort and it sounds like he stayed back in Houston for treatment. Perhaps he will join the team in Oakland early next week but a possible return date remains up in the air. Colin Moran was recalled to bolster the team's infield depth.

Longoria went 2-for-5 with a home run and five RBI in Thursday's win over Baltimore.

Longoria tied his career high with his 33rd homer, a three-run shot in the first inning, then added a two-run single in the fourth to notch a season-high five RBI. He also increased his team-high RBI total to 91. Overall though, the veteran slugger has struggled mightily in September. Longoria's .186 batting average this month is far and away his worst for any month this season.

Donaldson went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two walks and two runs against the Angels on Thursday.

Getting on base all five times makes for about as impressive a return as you can ask for after the reigning AL MVP was sidelined three games with a hip injury. Donaldson's markedly improved his plate discipline this year -- he now has 97 walks, exceeding his previous career high by more than 20. Perhaps predictably, that extra patience has come at the expense of RBI -- not to knock Donaldson's outstanding total of 92, but he hasn't driven home a run since the end of August and doesn't stand any chance of matching last season's 123.

Donaldson (hip) will serve as the designated hitter and bat second Thursday against the Angels, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca

The reigning AL MVP will tough it out and return as the DH Thursday after missing three starts. Apparently, the hip has not responded well to treatment and it's uncertain when he may be cleared to return to the field, but clearly whatever Wednesday's MRI showed was nothing that will keep Donaldson off the field entirely down the stretch. He'll be looking to record his first hit since Sept. 3.

Bregman left Wednesday's game with right hamstring discomfort.

Bregman pulled up as he advanced to third base on a Tyler White groundout in the sixth inning and left the game shortly thereafter. The Astros have since clarified that it was indeed a hamstring issue that forced Bregman out, but the severity of the injury is unknown as is Bregman's status for Friday's series opener in Seattle.

Bregman left Wednesday's game with apparent hamstring injury, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

The Astros have yet to provide an official diagnosis, but Bregman pulled up as he went to third base following a leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth inning. He left after a brief visit from a trainer, as Tony Kemp came into the game to pinch run.