Astros reinstate slugger Yordan Alvarez from 60-day IL

Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez was activated from the 60-day injured list prior to Tuesday night's game against the Colorado Rockies after being sidelined nearly four months due to a fractured right hand.

Alvarez is batting fourth and playing left field on Tuesday.

Alvarez last played on May 2 and missed Houston's next 100 games. He went 7-for-15 with four doubles and four RBIs in a four-game rehab stint at Double-A Corpus Christi prior to being activated.

Alvarez initially hurt the hand in late April and tried to play through the pain. He was scratched from the lineup on May 3 against the Chicago White Sox and went on the injured list two days later.

The team originally said Alvarez was diagnosed with a muscle strain but announced on May 31 that he was dealing with a small fracture.

Alvarez experienced a setback in late June when he was slated to begin a rehab stint. He visited a hand specialist on July 2 and received two injections to reduce the inflammation.

Alvarez, 28, is batting just .210 with three homers and 18 RBIs in 29 games this season.

The three-time All-Star topped 30 homers in each of the previous four campaigns and owns a career slugging percentage of .573.

The Astros also placed left-hander John Rooney (left elbow) on the 15-day IL, recalled right-hander AJ Blubaugh from Triple-A Sugar Land and optioned shortstop Brice Matthews to Triple-A.

Rooney, 28, allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings on Sunday in his lone Houston appearance. Blubaugh, 25, went 2-1 with a 4.15 ERA in three appearances (one start) for the Astros earlier this season, while the 23-year-old Matthews batted .143 (5-for-35) with three homers and eight RBIs in 11 games with the Astros.

Also, the Baltimore Orioles claimed right-hander Shawn Dubin off waivers. Houston designated the 29-year-old Dubin (2-0, 5.61) for assignment on Aug. 23.

--Field Level Media