Astros 'hoping for the best' as Walker deals with sore left oblique

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Astros first baseman Christian Walker was scratched from the lineup prior to Wednesday afternoon¡¯s 6-5 walk-off win against the Cardinals with left oblique soreness. Houston manager Joe Espada said Walker reported having pain during batting practice on the back fields of CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.

"It's something I don't want to see right now,¡± Espada said. ¡°I'm just hoping for the best.¡±

Walker, who was examined by team doctors, missed more than a month last season with the D-backs due to a strained left oblique, which gives the Astros reason for concern. Jon Singleton started at first base on Wednesday, and he led Houston in starts at the position last year.

The Astros signed Walker to a three-year, $60 million contract in December as their biggest offseason addition. He appeared in four Grapefruit League games this spring, going 4-for-8 with three doubles and two walks. Zach Dezenzo, ranked as the team¡¯s No. 5 prospect by MLB Pipeline, can also play first base, along with backup catcher Victor Caratini.

Despite missing a month last year with the oblique injury, Walker finished with 26 homers and 84 RBIs in 130 games for the D-backs. The 33-year-old has quietly established himself as one of the game¡¯s top first basemen over the past three seasons, pairing strong production at the plate with elite glove work. He¡¯s won three consecutive National League Gold Gloves at first base.

The right-handed slugger ranks fifth among primary first basemen with 11.4 WAR (per Baseball-Reference) since the beginning of 2022, recording 95 homers, 281 RBIs and an .813 OPS (123 OPS+) over 1,880 plate appearances and leading the position with 38 outs above average in that span.