RADIO
Christian Walker Back From Hip Injury on Tuesday
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (hip) is starting at first base and is batting sixth for the Astros on Tuesday against the visiting Miami Marlins and right-hander Tyler Phillips, according to MLB.com. Walker is back in the starting nine after missing the last two games due to a right-hip injury that he suffered on a swing on Saturday. The 35-year-old veteran will look to get back on track at the plate against a pitcher he has never faced after going 7-for-41 (.171) with one homer, three doubles, two RBI, five runs scored, three walks, and 15 strikeouts in 13 games and 48 plate appearances so far in July. Walker already has 20 home runs in 365 at-bats in 2026, but he's slashing just .233/.310/.455 with a .764 OPS, with 58 RBI and 50 runs scored in 99 games played. He's not striking out a ton (23.1% of the time), but his 43% ground-ball rate is his highest since 2020 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Fantasy managers looking to buy low on Walker's power should think twice when looking at his .223 expected batting average and .301 xwOBA.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Yordan Alvarez Cementing his Case for AL MVP With Another Two-Homer Game
Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez continued to rake in Monday night's 8-5 win over the visiting Miami Marlins at Daikin Park by going 3-for-4 at the plate as the designated hitter with two home runs and a strikeout to raise his season average to .324 and his OPS to a stellar 1.083. Alvarez continued to scorch the ball all over the ballpark in the series opener against the Fish, and his two homers now have him tied for the major-league lead in homers with 33 with Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber. The 29-year-old Cuban left-handed slugger also leads baseball with a 1.083 OPS and is second with his .324 batting average and 75 RBI. There aren't many pitchers in the league right now who can shut Alvarez down offensively. He came into Monday's tilt with a .353 average (18-for-51) and 1.159 OPS with five home runs, four doubles, 13 RBI, and six runs scored across 13 games and 60 plate appearances in the month of July. If Alvarez can continue his torrid pace for the rest of the second half and stay healthy, he has an excellent shot to be the first Triple Crown winner since Miguel Cabrera did it in 2012.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Yainer Diaz Heating Up, Re-Emerging as a Top Waiver-Wire Target
Across 187 plate appearances in 2026, Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz is hitting .242/.267/.393 with six home runs, 23 RBI, and 19 runs scored. The 27-year-old got off to a rough start to the season, hitting .238 with two home runs across 106 plate appearances before being placed on the injured list in early May with an oblique injury. However, Diaz has been heating up since returning from the IL in mid-June. Across his last 81 trips to the plate, Diaz is hitting .247 with home runs and nine RBI. Diaz owns just a 32% hard-hit rate this season, but he owns a career 43.4% hard-hit rate across nearly 1,800 MLB plate appearances. He also limits his swing-and-miss, as he's struck out in just 16% of his plate appearances in 2026. Fantasy managers in search of some upside at the catcher position may want to consider targeting Diaz on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian Walker Missing Second Straight Game With Hip Tightness
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (hip) is missing his second straight game due to hip tightness in Monday's series opener at Daikin Park versus the visiting Miami Marlins, per MLB.com. LaMonte Wade Jr. will make a second straight start at first base and will bat fifth against Marlins right-hander Janson Junk. Walker initially injured his hip on a swing in Saturday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. The good news is that manager Joe Espada said that the 35-year-old veteran has been doing baseball activities and is feeling better, so he should be considered day-to-day with a chance to return as early as Game 2 of the series against the Fish on Tuesday. Walker is still good for plenty of power -- he's already reached the 20-homer mark for the fifth straight season -- but he's not providing much else for fantasy managers with a .234/.310/.456 slash line in 364 at-bats. He could probably use a couple of days off, too, as he's gone 7-for-40 (.175) with a homer, three doubles, two RBI, five runs scored, three walks, and 15 strikeouts in 12 games so far in July.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jeremy Pena Back in Astros Lineup for Series Opener
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (hamstring) is starting at the 6 and batting in his usual leadoff spot for Monday's series opener at home against the visiting Miami Marlins and right-hander Janson Junk, according to MLB.com. Pena was pulled as a precaution in Saturday's game against the Baltimore Orioles due to cramps in his right hamstring, and he was given the day off in Sunday's series finale. Now that the 28-year-old is back in action to begin the new week, fantasy managers should return him to their starting lineups in traditional formats. Pena has gone 5-for-17 (.294) with an RBI and three runs scored in five games since returning from the injured list, and the Dominican shortstop is slashing .295/.359/.430 with a .789 OPS, six home runs, 22 RBI, 37 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across an even 200 at-bats in 2026. Since the start of June, he's hitting .315 (34-for-108) with an .835 OPS, three homers, five doubles, 14 RBI, 22 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 30 games and 123 plate appearances. Pena has never faced Junk.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ronel Blanco to Make Season Debut on Monday
Houston Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco (elbow) will be activated off the Injured List ahead of Monday's game against the Miami Marlins. Blanco is set to take the mound and make his season debut during the series opener against Miami. The veteran right-hander has been sidelined since having an internal brace procedure last June. He has been working his way back and building up his pitch count in the minor leagues. His return to the mound will move Tatsuya Imai to Tuesday, and shift Peter Lambert to Wednesday's series finale. Blanco hasn't pitched in a big league game since mid-May of 2025. Fantasy managers can't be sure what to expect from Blanco, but he could be someone worth adding in deep leagues.
Source: Matt Kawahara
Source: Matt Kawahara
Jeremy Pena on the Bench to Start Sunday's Game
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (hamstring) will start Sunday's series finale against the visiting Baltimore Orioles on the bench after he was pulled from Saturday's game early with cramps in his right hamstring, per MLB.com. Nick Allen is starting at shortstop on Sunday and will hit ninth for Houston against Orioles right-hander Brandon Young. The good news for Pena is that he took part in baseball activities on Sunday, so he could very well be back in the starting nine for Monday's series opener at Daikin Park against the visiting Miami Marlins. It's been an injury-plagued 2026 campaign for the 28-year-old Dominican shortstop, but when active, he's been a solid contributor for the Astros at the plate with a .295/.359/.430 slash line, a .789 OPS, six home runs, 22 RBI, 37 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in his 200 at-bats. In just five games played in July, Pena has gone 5-for-17 (.294) with an RBI and three runs scored. A 20-20 season is highly unlikely at this point, but Pena can still provide fantasy managers with decent counting stats the rest of the way if he can avoid more injuries in the second half.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Christian Walker Sitting Out With Hip Injury
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (hip) is absent from the team's starting lineup on Sunday for the series finale against the visiting Baltimore Orioles, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. LaMonte Wade is starting at first base and batting cleanup for the Astros against Orioles right-hander Brandon Young. It shouldn't be a huge surprise that Walker is resting after being pulled from Saturday's contest at Daikin Park with tightness in his right hip after a swing late in the game. The good news is that manager Joe Espada said that the 35-year-old veteran is feeling better and is doing baseball activities, so he could be ready to return to the starting nine for Monday's series opener against the visiting Miami Marlins. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Walker's status then. Walker has already reached the 20-homer mark in 98 games and 406 plate appearances in 2026 in his second year in Houston, but he's hitting .234 (85-for-364) with a .310 on-base percentage and .766 OPS. He's also hitting just .175 (7-for-40) with a .623 OPS, a homer, three doubles, two RBI, five runs, three walks, and 15 strikeouts in 12 games so far in July.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Jeremy Pena Leaves with Hamstring Cramp
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (hamstring) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. Pena appears to have tweaked his hamstring while taking a swing in the third inning. He stayed in and finished the at-bat, but was replaced in the fourth inning. Pena finished the game 1-for-2 at the plate with a single. The Astros are calling it a right hamstring cramp, but he'll likely undergo further testing to determine the severity of the issue. Fantasy managers shouldn't be shocked if Nick Allen gets the starting nod at shortstop on Sunday. There should be another update on Pena ahead of Sunday's game.
Source: Houston Astros
Source: Houston Astros
Christian Walker Removed Due to Hip Soreness
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (hip) was forced to make an early exit from Saturday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. Walker appeared to have tweaked his right hip after taking a swing in the fourth inning. He was taken out of the game before finishing the at-bat. He finished the game hitless in one plate appearance. The assumption is that Walker will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. Fantasy managers shouldn't be shocked if Walker is out of the lineup on Sunday. Until there is more information, fantasy managers should consider Walker as day-to-day.
Source: Houston Astros
Source: Houston Astros
Peter Lambert Gaining Waiver-Wire Steam After 10-Strikeout Outing
Houston Astros right-hander Peter Lambert continues to draw more eyeballs in fantasy baseball with another strong performance in his first outing following the All-Star break in Friday night's 3-2 loss to the visiting Baltimore Orioles at Daikin Park. Lambert gave up just one earned run on three hits while walking three and striking out a career-high 10 in six innings of work for a no-decision. The 29-year-old is now 8-5 on the season with a 3.03 ERA (4.08 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with 91 strikeouts and 36 walks in 92 innings over his 16 starts in his first year with the Astros. The former second-rounder by the Colorado Rockies in 2015 now has three quality starts in a row in July against the Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers, allowing just two earned runs over that span with five walks, 23 strikeouts, and two wins. Lambert has a career-high 24% strikeout rate in 2026 in his fifth year in the big leagues and is deserving of some attention as at least a spot starter in deeper mixed fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in only 54% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Hunter Brown a Prime Buy-Low Candidate Coming Out of the All-Star Break
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown had the first half of his 2026 season disrupted by a shoulder injury, which landed him on the injured list in early April and held him out until mid-June. Across 35 1/3 innings (seven starts) for the year, Brown has recorded a 1-0 record with a 3.57 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 39 strikeouts. The 27-year-old is still averaging 96.0 miles per hour on his fastball and owns a solid 25.5% strikeout rate. However, his walk rate has spiked from 7.8% in 2025 to 14.4% in 2026. Still, Brown was one of the best pitchers in baseball a season ago, recording a 2.43 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 206 strikeouts and 12 wins across 185 1/3 innings. As he gets further removed from the shoulder injury, Brown's command could begin to return. Fantasy managers in need of starting pitching upside should target Brown as a buy-low candidate.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Astros Call Up Outfield Prospect Lucas Spence on Friday
The Houston Astros announced on Friday that they selected the contract of outfield prospect Lucas Spence from Triple-A Sugar Land and placed outfielder Brice Matthews (knee) on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left knee in a corresponding move. Spence made the start in center field for the Astros and was hitting eighth in his big-league debut against the visiting Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Dean Kremer at Daikin Park. The 23-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville got the call to the Show after slashing .258/.353/.424 with a .776 OPS, six home runs, 44 RBI, 13 stolen bases, and 36 runs scored in 63 games across 278 plate appearances with the FCL rookie-level Astros, Double-A Corpus Christi, and Sugar Land. The 6-foot, 195-pounder is the team's No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he could help fill Houston's center field void to begin the second half of the season, making him an AL-only consideration off the waiver wire for his on-base skills and speed. There isn't much pop here, though, and he'll almost certainly only play against right-handed pitchers.
Source: Houston Astros
Source: Houston Astros
Isaac Paredes Profiles as a Steady Source of Power and Run Production
Across 384 plate appearances so far this season, Houston Astros infielder Isaac Paredes is hitting .254/.349/.417 with 12 home runs, 49 RBI, and 39 runs scored. The 27-year-old's underlying batted-ball metrics are underwhelming, as he owns a 5.9% barrel rate and a 30% hard-hit rate. However, Paredes specializes in pulling the ball in the air to left field, which makes him a perfect fit for Houston's Daikin Park. The righty slugger also does a nice job of controlling the strike zone, logging a 9.6% walk rate with a 15.9% strikeout rate. With Astros third baseman Carlos Correa (ankle) out for the season due to ankle surgery, Paredes is locked into an everyday role in Houston as long as he stays healthy. Paredes' profile may not offer tremendous upside for fantasy managers, but he should continue to be a solid source of power and run production.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jose Altuve's July Power Spike Opens a Sell Window
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve reached the break at .235/.307/.404 with 11 home runs, 45 runs, 27 RBI, and two steals in 74 games. He did give fantasy managers something to sell. Altuve homered three times in 44 July plate appearances, including the first-half finale, after missing 17 games with a left oblique strain. The bigger picture has not changed much. His 85.8 mph average exit velocity is among the weakest marks of his career, and Statcast sits at a .228 expected average with a .342 expected slugging percentage. Altuve is also striking out at a career-high 22.1% clip. Jeremy Peña returned July 10 and immediately reclaimed the leadoff spot, pushing Altuve to fifth for the final three games. The name still matters, and so does the recent power. This is a good time to see what both can fetch.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
