Yordan Alvarez DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes is set to bat in the two-hole entering the season, with outfielder Yordan Alvarez batting third, according to manager Joe Espada. Paredes will be looking to take advantage of the Crawford Boxes in short left field of Daikin Park and perform like the player he was in 2023 when he slashed .250/.352/.488 with 31 home runs for the Rays. He should see plenty of pitches to hit while batting in front of Alvarez, who has proven himself to be one of the best hitters in the league. He is coming off of a 2024 season where he slashed .308/.392/.567 with 35 home runs, 86 RBI, and 88 runs in 147 games.

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (thumb) is returning to the starting lineup on Wednesday evening against the New York Mets. Alvarez was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to this minor injury. However, as expected, Alvarez is set to return to action just 24 hours later. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case he faces a setback. Earlier in the offseason, the team has expressed that they will have Alvarez serve as their designated hitter more often to keep him healthy. Last season, the 27-year-old slugger made 53 starts in the outfield, but fantasy managers should expect that number to decline in 2025. In the batter's box, he posted an elite .308/.392/.567 slash line with 35 home runs and an elite .411 xwOBA. He should be viewed as a high-power upside No. 1 outfielder in all formats.

Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez (thumb) was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to thumb soreness. Chandler Rome of The Athletic noted that he suffered this injury during Sunday's batting practice. However, manager Joe Espada expressed that Alvarez will likely return to the lineup on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, but it appears this injury is not very serious. Last season, Alvarez posted a stellar .308/.392/.567 slash line with 34 doubles and 35 home runs. He tallied 88 runs and 86 RBI. He generated an elite .411 xwOBA and a .595 xSLG, which placed him in the 99th percentile, respectively. The Astros have stated that Alvarez will likely see more time as a designated hitter throughout the season to keep him healthy. Given his elite power upside, fantasy managers should confidently target him as a high-end No. 1 outfielder.