CHICAGO -- Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez left Saturday's 3-0 win over the Chicago Cubs in the middle of an at-bat in the sixth inning because of back spasms.
After fouling off a pitch from Colin Rea to fall behind 0-2, Alvarez appeared to be in discomfort. Zach Dezenzo stepped in as a pinch-hitter, and swung and missed on the next pitch to complete the strikeout.
"Once that at-bat got going, he took too much time in between pitches," Houston manager Joe Espada said. "It was time to come out of the game."
Alvarez was chatting with the training staff in the on-deck circle before the at-bat, his third of the game. The three-time All-Star is batting .300 with 15 homers and 31 RBIs.
"He feels better," Espada said. "But we'll check him tomorrow."
Alvarez told mlb.com that he won't play on Sunday, but the decision has nothing to do with the injury. It will be a scheduled day off, his first of the season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
