(Photo credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)

Before the middle contest Saturday of Houston's three-game series with the visiting Baltimore Orioles, Astros manager Joe Espada teased the potential return of slugger Yordan Alvarez, who has been sidelined since May 3 with a fracture in his right hand.

Later on Saturday, the Astros needed contributions from several players who weren't on their roster at the start of the season. From pitchers Jason Alexander and Enyel De Los Santos to infielders Carlos Correa and Ramon Urias, both acquired at the trade deadline last month, the Astros utilized their depth to eke out a 5-4 win in 12 innings that set up a series rubber match on Sunday afternoon.

'You have different heroes every single day stepping up, staying together,' Espada said. 'In a long season like this, you need everyone pulling the same rope, and we are doing just that.'

As for Alvarez, he will return to Houston on Sunday after completing rehab work at the club's spring training facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. Espada was coy when asked about the next step for Alvarez.

'Stay put,' Espada said. 'We'll see how he feels. He's going to be around the guys, and we'll see where we go after we see him (Sunday).'

Right-hander Cristian Javier (1-0, 3.60 ERA) has the starting assignment for Houston on Sunday.

Javier made his season debut on Monday, against the Boston Red Sox, and allowed two runs on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts over five innings in a 7-6 victory. It marked his return from Tommy John surgery and was his first start since May 21, 2024.

Javier is 1-1 with a 1.99 ERA in six career appearances (three starts) against the Orioles. He did not factor into the decision in his previous start against them on Sept. 20, 2023, after allowing one run on three hits and two walks with 11 strikeouts over five innings in a 2-1 win.

Right-hander Dean Kremer (8-9, 4.17 ERA) is scheduled to start the rubber match for the Orioles.

Kremer was the pitcher of record in a 1-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday after he allowed one run on five hits and one walk with six strikeouts over a season-high eight innings. It marked the second time that Kremer logged at least eight innings, joining his complete game against the Astros on Sept. 23, 2022.

Kremer is 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA over four career starts against the Astros. He did not factor into the decision in his last start against Houston on Aug. 25, 2024, when he allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts over six innings in the Orioles' 6-3 home loss.

Baltimore right fielder Dylan Beavers, 24, made his big league debut on Saturday and finished 1-for-5.

The Orioles' third-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, Beavers joined a growing list of young talent drafted and developed by the franchise recently, a list that includes Colton Cowser, Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday.

'As you look at our lineup (Saturday) and the one we're probably going to crank out (Sunday), there's a lot of players that are signed and developed by the Baltimore Orioles,' interim manager Tony Mansolino said.

'Our scouting first and player development second ... they've drafted those players and helped them get to a point where they can come here to Houston and compete against a team that's in first place and hopefully give us a chance to win a series.'

--Field Level Media