Donovan

Walton

Walton got it done against the team he started the year with. He actually did better for the Halos (.319/.354/.505 in 32 games) than he has been since the A’s claimed him off waivers (.234/.376/.438), but the overall showing could be enough to keep him on the 40-man roster this winter. Although he’s 32, he has just under two years of service time and would make close to the minimum next year.

Walton drove in a run on a base hit in the first inning and stole second for his third steal of the season. He then collected his second RBI with a single in the third before slugging a two-run homer in the fifth. The 32-year-old second baseman is hitting .269/.367/.458 with eight homers, 35 runs scored, and 29 RBI across 247 plate appearances.

Walton has been functioning as the A’s regular second baseman down the stretch but the 32-year-old infielder will get a breather in this one. Michael Stefanic will start in his place and will bat eighth against Guardians’ right-hander Daniel Espino on Friday evening.

Since coming back from surgery to repair a torn meniscus, Langeliers has played three of the five games for the Athletics. With the team not in playoff contention, it makes sense that they don’t want to push the 28-year-old’s knee any more than they need to. The Athletics are at home all week next week, but we would expect Langeliers to sit two of those games. Jeff McNeil is at DH and hitting second on Thursday, while Donovan Walton is at second base and batting fifth.

Walton’s walkoff homer off Eduard Bazardo was his seventh in 226 plate appearances this season. He had four in 214 career plate appearances coming into the year. The A’s figure to keep starting him against righties the rest of the way. They’ll then have a difficult decision about whether to retain the 32-year-old journeyman as a part of their plans for 2027.

It appears to be nothing more than a routine day of rest for the 34-year-old infielder. Donovan Walton will start in his place at second base and will bat seventh for the Athletics against Astros’ right-hander Cristian Javier.

Walton put the A’s on the board with a solo homer off Hunter Brown to lead off the third inning. The 32-year-old veteran infielder has been filling in at shortstop with Jacob Wilson likely done for the season with a shoulder injury. Saturday’s homer was his fourth of the season while slashing .283/.374/.454 across 176 plate appearances.

Wilson takes a seat for the third consecutive game as he continues to deal with left shoulder soreness. It’s challenging to rule out a potential trip to the injured list, especially with the Athletics no longer in the mix for a playoff spot, but Wilson remains day-to-day for the moment. It’ll be Donovan Walton getting a look at shortstop on Wednesday evening.

Wilson will get a day off as the team continues to give him some rest to manage his patellar tendonitis in his right knee. The 24-year-old will sit with Donovan Walton leading off and handling shortstop duties.

Kuroda-Grauer was replaced by Donovan Walton at third base after fouling a ball off an unfortunate location earlier in the contest. He was 2-for-3 with his first career home run prior to leaving the game in the sixth inning. It seems like a precautionary exit, but fantasy managers should check back in on his status leading into Tuesday’s showdown.