Veteran first baseman Christian Walker is back, and he's ready to help the Houston Astros end their three-game losing streak.
Houston activated Walker from the paternity list before this weekend's matchup with the rival Texas Rangers. Cleveland swept the Walker-less Astros in Houston earlier this week.
The Astros optioned infielder Shay Whitcomb to Triple-A Sugar Land in the corresponding move. Whitcomb is 1-for-19 this year, though the lone hit was a homer.
It's been a frustrating season for Walker, who is hitting .234 with 12 home runs and 45 RBIs in 364 plate appearances. However, he's posted -0.5 bWAR, and his .678 is his lowest since 2020.
Things might be improving, though. Walker batted .464 with two homers, eight RBIs, and a 1.161 OPS in 29 July plate appearances. We'll see if he continues that scorching start and carries that momentum into the second half.
Either way, Walker has two years and $40 million remaining on the contract he signed last offseason. One must wonder if the Astros are regretting bringing the 34-year-old Walker on that kind of deal, but it's funny how the thought of a championship would, shall we say, redeem Walker's contract.
Luckily for Walker, he's still on pace to see postseason action for only the third time in 11 seasons. The 55-38 Astros still hold a 6 1/2-game lead over the Seattle Mariners.
Houston has won the AL West in eight of the last nine years.
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