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Astros shortstop Peña returns to lineup; first baseman Walker remains out
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña returned to the starting lineup Monday for the series opener against the Miami Marlins. First baseman Christian Walker sat out for the second consecutive game after leaving Saturday's contest with right hip tightness.
Jul 20, 8:55 PM·1m read1 source
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Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña returned to the starting lineup Monday for the series opener against the Miami Marlins. First baseman Christian Walker remained out of the lineup for the second straight game.
Peña left Saturday's game in the fourth inning with a right hamstring cramp and missed Sunday's loss. He is batting .295 with six home runs and 22 RBIs in 53 games this season after two injury-list stints. Walker exited the same Saturday game with right hip tightness. Manager Joe Espada said Walker is performing baseball activities and could come off the bench Monday.
The Astros made four roster moves before Monday's game.
Right-hander Ronel Blanco and left-hander Bennett Sousa were reinstated from the 60-day injured list. Left-hander Bryan King and infielder Raynel Delgado were optioned to Triple-A. Blanco, scheduled to start Monday, returns 13 months after Tommy John surgery.
He posted a 2.80 ERA in 2024 and was 3-4 with a 4.10 ERA in nine starts last season before the procedure. Sousa had been sidelined since May 6 with left elbow inflammation. He has allowed three runs in 3⅓ innings this season after recording a 2.84 ERA out of the bullpen in 2025.
