Astros’ $115M Star’s Major Setback Prompts Manager to Delivers Clear Message Amid Growing Concerns

The Houston Astros didn’t just misplace a bat in their lineup — they’re watching a cornerstone of their $115 million investment crumble under the weight of inflammation and underperformance. While the calendar insists it’s early, the numbers scream otherwise. And just when fans hoped for a spark, the team’s skipper stepped in with a clipboard full of optimism and a reality check no one asked for but everyone needed.

Whenever a player is scratched from the lineup, many questions arise, and when that player is an important part of the lineup, it will turn heads. That is exactly what has happened with the Astros and Yordan Alvarez.

It was reported by the MLB official website that Yordan Alvarez has been scratched from the lineup. When asked about this, Astros manager Joe Espada said, “I’m going to give him a day just to see if he feels better to be able to play tomorrow. It’s just been sore for a couple of days and created some inflammation, kind of on the side of his right hand. We’re going to give him a day.”

This isn’t Alvarez’s first hand-related setback either. He missed time in 2022 with inflammation in the same right hand, and showed up to 2023 MLB Spring Training with a sore left hand. It’s starting to look less like bad luck and more like a trend. With Alvarez out, Victor Caratini stepped into the DH role — a move that doesn’t exactly strike fear into opposing pitchers. The Astros’ offensive identity, already shaky, now feels like it’s running on fumes.

If the Astros were hoping to coast on star power, they’re now finding out what happens when the engine light starts flashing. Alvarez isn’t just sore — he’s becoming a recurring question mark in a season already short on answers. For a $115 million man, his current output feels more like a rental than a return. And if this is just “a day,” Houston better pray it doesn’t turn into a diagnosis.

The Houston Astros require more than a feel-good story from Lance McCullers Jr.

The Houston Astros aren’t in the business of fairy tales. They’re in the business of wins, especially with a brutal schedule looming. So while Sunday might look like the setup for a sentimental comeback, Minute Maid Park isn’t hosting a movie premiere. It’s hosting the White Sox. And for Lance McCullers Jr., the only script that matters is one where he delivers—early, often, and without excuses.

Lance McCullers Jr. is set to make his long-awaited return to the mound this Sunday, marking his first major league appearance since the Houston Astros’ 2022 postseason run. After an extended battle with injuries, the right-hander gets a favorable reentry point against the struggling Chicago White Sox, statistically the weakest offense in the American League across nearly every major category.

While Chicago’s hitters offer little resistance, their pitching rotation has quietly matched Houston’s in several key metrics like ERA and hits allowed. McCullers will face Bryse Wilson, a bullpen arm making just his second start of the year. The Astros must capitalize early, as the White Sox bullpen lacks the depth and sharpness to contain Houston’s lineup over nine innings.

The Astros cannot afford a slow ramp-up from McCullers. After Sunday’s “cupcake” matchup, Houston’s schedule turns brutal, with no sub-.500 opponents until May 19. McCullers doesn’t just need to look healthy — he needs to pitch like a difference-maker. If he stumbles against a team like Chicago, Houston’s rotation depth concerns could intensify quickly.

In other words, if McCullers can’t cook against the White Sox, how’s he supposed to hold his own at the banquet that follows? The Astros aren’t handing out participation trophies — they’re chasing postseason relevance. Sentiment won’t save their season. They need sharp innings, not soft narratives. Sunday isn’t about emotion; it’s about execution.