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.

MILWAUKEE — Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has a strained muscle at the top of his right hand, a diagnosis that instills optimism he won’t have a prolonged stay on the injured list. The three-time All-Star went on the 10-day injured list Monday, retroactive to Saturday, and returned to Houston for an MRI that revealed the muscle strain.

Alvarez flew back to Houston on Monday afternoon to visit team physicians and undergo imaging, manager Joe Espada said. Though Espada said Alvarez felt “better” on Monday, the team opted to place him on the injured list to “get it right.”