With Yordan Alvarez currently on the IL, Astros manager Joe Espada speaks on the hand injury and its possible severity.

Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has a strained muscle at the top of his right hand. It's a diagnosis that instills optimism he won’t have a prolonged stay on the injured list.

MILWAUKEE - Yordan Alvarez has a "small strain" in his right hand, but the Houston Astros are hopeful the slugger will miss minimal time on the injured list, manager Joe Espada said Wednesday. Alvarez was placed on the 10-day IL on Monday with what the Astros termed right hand inflammation.