Alvarez (hand) has been cleared to grip a bat and could start hitting off a tee Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
It's progress for Alvarez, who was placed on the injured list Monday due to a right hand muscle strain. He's first eligible to come off the injured list Tuesday, but he'll likely need to take dry swings without issue before the Astros activate him. According to McTaggart, Alvarez could be reinstated prior to a series against the Rangers that begins Thursday, so the Astros seem to have some optimism that the slugger will return within the week.