Brandon

Walter

Walter figures to miss all of next season following the procedure, which typically carries a 12-14 month recovery timetable. The 29-year-old hit the shelf back in mid-July with elbow inflammation and was unable to avoid reconstructive surgery.

The exact nature of the procedure is unclear at the moment. The 29-year-old lefty has been out since mid-July recovering from elbow inflammation. There should be an official timetable for his return following the procedure, but fantasy managers shouldn’t expect him back until the second half of next season.

Walter has been shelved since mid-July with inflammation in his pitching elbow. Once it became clear that he wouldn’t be able to return this season, it makes sense to move him to the 60-day injured list to free up a spot on the team’s 40-man roster. That spot will be taken by Craig Kimbrel, who was officially signed to a one-year deal on Friday.

A tough break for Walter, who seemed to be in the midst of a breakthrough before getting hurt. He hasn’t been ruled out for the season, but at this point, one imagines that if he returns, it’ll probably have to be as a reliever.

Walter landed on the IL on July 25th with elbow inflammation, so it’s good to see that he’s already throwing. He will need to progress to long toss and then bullpens before beginning a rehab assignment. However, with Spencer Arrighetti (thumb) back on Wednesday and Cristia Javier (elbow) likely back next week, there may not be a rotation spot for Walter to return to.

Walter has been excellent since joining the Houston rotation, so this is a bigger blow than one could have anticipated prior to the season. The left-hander will be out for at least two weeks, but there’s obviously a chance this is a much longer stint on the injured list. Nick Hernandez is up to take Walter’s place on the active roster.

The one run came on a leadoff homer from Ketel Marte. This should have been a win for Walter, but the Astros didn’t have their second- and third-best relievers (Bryan Abreu and Bryan King) available today. Bennett Sousa got the eighth and blew a two-run lead, only to be awarded the win after the Astros scored in the top of the ninth. Walter has a 3.35 ERA, and he looks like a nice play with the Nationals up next.

Walter was outstanding, but Luis Castillo was just slightly better so it’s a hard-luck loss for the 28-year-old. The only run he allowed came on a long homer for Randy Arozarena, but that’s one more than Castillo allowed. Even in the loss, Walter impressed with his command, and the metrics suggest he’s been even better than his 3.66 ERA; although the same is still just 46 2/3 innings. He’s worth consideration against the Diamondbacks next week.

The Astros will then follow with Lance McCullers Jr. on Saturday and Framber Valdez on Sunday, which means Hunter Brown and Colton Gordon will start the first two games of next week against the Diamondbacks. Walter has been solid in seven starts for the Astros this season and finds himself in a good streaming situation while pitching in T-Mobile Park.

Walter surrendered just two hits, but both hits were solo homers in the first inning. With Slade Cecconi pitching exceptionally for his seven frames, that was enough to give Walter his second loss of the year. The 28-year-old whiffed seven, and didn’t issue a free pass in a very solid outing; just one that comes with an L instead of a W. Walter enters the All-Star break 1-2 with a 3.98 ERA over seven starts.