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Albert Pujols to Interview for Astros' Managerial Job
Future Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols will interview for the Houston Astros' managerial vacancy on Thursday, sources told Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. The Astros named former St. Louis Cardinals executive Randy Flores as their new general manager five days ago. Flores spent eight years in the big leagues before joining St. Louis' front office, with five of those years spent as Pujols' teammate in St. Louis, including a World Series championship in 2006. Pujols has made it clear that he has a desire to manage in the big leagues, and he won a championship in the Dominican winter league in his first season leading the Leones del Escogido in January of 2025 while also serving as the skipper for the Dominican Republic in this year's World Baseball Classic, where his squad lost to the United States in the semifinals. Pujols was a finalist for the managerial openings in the last hiring cycle with the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres. New York Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus is also among those being considered by the Astros for their managerial position.
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Mike Rizzo Interviewing For Astros General Manager Job
Former Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo is interviewing for the vacant Houston Astros general manager role, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. As general manager of the Nationals, Rizzo built up the franchise and led Washington to its first-ever World Series title in 2019, defeating the Houston Astros. Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez were fired in 2025, ending Rizzo's 19-year tenure with the franchise. Rizzo was considered for the Athletics job in a similar role this offseason, but withdrew his name from consideration to focus on the Astros position, according to Nightengale.
Source: Bob Nightengale, USA Today
Source: Bob Nightengale, USA Today
Joe Espada Will Not Return as Astros Manager in 2027
The Houston Astros announced on Wednesday that Joe Espada will not return as the team's manager in 2027. Espada took over in Houston in 2024 and led the Astros to a 256-229 record across his three years at the helm. The Astros won two American League West division crowns under Espada, but failed to win a single postseason game. Houston has also gotten progressively worse over the last three seasons, winning 88 games in 2024, 87 games in 2025, and 81 games this past season. Espada has already met with the Seattle Mariners about their managerial vacancy, so he could remain in the AL West.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Jason Schiavone Could be Promoted Early in 2027
Houston Astros catcher/first base prospect Jason Schiavone could find his way onto the major-league roster early in 2027, multiple sources within the organization told Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Schiavone, an 11th-rounder in 2024, put himself in the conversation by becoming the first minor-league catcher in 45 years to have a 30-30 season. The 23-year-old had a .922 OPS over 540 plate appearances in a season that ended with a nine-game cameo at Triple-A Sugar Land. He saw playing time at first base in 2026, but team officials insist he will be a catcher, and when he arrives, it will prompt questions about Yainer Diaz's future in Houston. Diaz is the everyday catcher and is under club control for two more seasons. Schiavone is considered the Astros' No. 6 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, but he has plenty of areas of his game to refine, including his swing-and-miss tendencies. Schiavone struck out 32% of the time last year, so fantasy managers looking to stash him in keeper leagues will probably need to be patient.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Christian Walker Continues Late-Season Surge with Home Run on Sunday
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker helped power his team to the American League West title on Sunday, going 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two additional runs scored in his team's 9-0 win over the Athletics. Across 630 plate appearances in 2026, Walker hit .224/.295/.421 with 28 home runs, 86 RBI, and 70 runs scored. The 35-year-old largely struggled in the second half of the season, hitting .201 across 230 plate appearances after the All-Star break. However, Walker is entering the playoffs on a heater, as he hit .276 with four home runs and seven RBI over Houston's final six games of the regular season. If Walker can continue his recent hot hitting, he could be an impact power bat in the Astros Wild Card Series matchup against the Chicago White Sox.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jason Schiavone Moving Up to Triple-A Sugar Land
Houston Astros catcher/first base prospect Jason Schiavone has been promoted to Triple-A for the remainder of the 2026 season. The Astros' sixth-ranked prospect started the year at High-A, powering his way to Double-A after just 35 games (17 home runs, 1.218 OPS). The JMU product saw his batting average dip to just .233 at the higher level, but he continued to display his trademark power (14 home runs) and ability to draw walks (14.5 percent) during his 79-game tenure there. A 33.0 percent strikeout rate is concerning, though, so it is worth keeping an eye on at Triple-A. The 6-foot-1 backstop moves well for a catcher, having swiped 29 bags this season in 114 total games, and could make quick work of Triple-A next year if he can continue to produce home runs and keep the strikeouts to a palatable level. With a rare power/speed combination for a catcher, there is some fantasy intrigue here, though he's not yet a must-stash in dynasty leagues.
Source: Sugar Land Space Cowboys
Source: Sugar Land Space Cowboys
Isaac Paredes Heating Up in July, Emerging as a Priority Waiver Wire Target
Across 410 plate appearances in 2026, Houston Astros infielder Isaac Paredes is hitting .263/.354/.438 with 14 home runs, 54 RBI, and 42 runs scored. The 27-year-old's overall line is solid, but he's really started to heat up in July. Across 71 plate appearances so far this month, Paredes is hitting .323 with three homers and nine RBI. Paredes has never had elite batted-ball metrics, and he's posted subpar barrel (6.1%) and hard-hit (30.4%) rates once again this season. However, the righty slugger maximizes his power by pulling the ball in the air at a high rate, which is a perfect approach for Houston's short left field. Paredes is also tough to strike out (15.1% strikeout rate), which helps keep his batting average floor high. For fantasy managers in need of power and run production, Paredes is a logical waiver-wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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
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
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
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
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
Christian Walker Returns on Friday Following Back Injury
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (back) is starting at first base and batting cleanup for Houston in Friday's contest against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Nick Martinez at Daikin Park, according to MLB.com. Walker will return to the starting nine following an off day on Thursday after he was removed from Wednesday's series finale early against the Minnesota Twins with stiffness in his lower back. Fantasy managers are hoping that the 35-year-old veteran right-handed slugger can get his bat going again with the All-Star break approaching quickly. After a hot start in 2026, Walker went 23-for-103 (.223) with three homers, six doubles, a triple, 13 RBI, nine runs scored, nine walks, and 31 strikeouts in 26 games in June to drop his season slash line down to .239/.310/.469 with a .780 OPS in 361 plate appearances. He has a good matchup to get back on track, as he's hitting .500 with a 1.371 OPS, one homer, and four RBI in 12 career at-bats against Martinez. Get Walker back in your starting fantasy lineups in traditional formats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Christian Walker Departs Early With Back Stiffness
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (back) was forced from Wednesday night's contest against the Minnesota Twins early at Daikin Park with stiffness in his lower back, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Before he left the game, Walker was 0-for-2 at the plate with two strikeouts. For now, fantasy managers should consider Walker day-to-day. Hopefully, he'll be ready to return to action following an off day on Thursday when the Astros begin a series on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Isaac Paredes moved from third base to first on Wednesday to replace Walker, with Brice Matthews entering the game to play the hot corner. Walker remains a strong source of power in his second year in Houston, as he entered Wednesday's contest with 19 long balls on the year in 359 plate appearances. He's coming off a slow month of June, though, when he went 22-for-103 (.214) with only three homers, six doubles, a triple, 13 RBI, nine runs, nine walks, and 31 strikeouts in 26 games. Paredes is the best bet to play first for the Astros if Walker misses more time with his back injury.
Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
Christian Walker Hits Two Homers Saturday, Breaking Out of his Funk?
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker was the team's offense in their 3-0 shutout victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday, going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and a walk to raise his season average to .266 and his OPS to .861. Walker hit a two-run home run to get things going in the first frame and later hit a solo homer in the fourth inning for all the runs that Houston would need to finish off the Cubbies. The 35-year-old reached base in all four of his plate appearances on the day. Despite the two-homer performance, Walker has hit just .164 (9-for-55) with four home runs, a double, seven RBI, six runs scored, four walks, and 14 strikeouts in his last 15 games, dating back to May 8. On the year, the right-handed power hitter is slashing .266/.340/.521 with an .860 OPS, 13 long balls, 34 RBI, and 30 runs scored in his 192 at-bats. Hopefully, his two-homer outing on Saturday will get him back on track offensively for an Astros team that really needs him more than ever.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
