Owner Jim Crane commented that Smith “could make the ballclub this year at some point." That point could come sooner than expected.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Friday that an MRI on Walker's left oblique did not show a "strain or anything that we are concerned about," Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. The Astros are still referring to the injury simply as left oblique soreness,

Considering veteran first baseman Christian Walker has dealt with some oblique injuries in the past, the Astros decided to send him back to Houston on Thursday night to undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the left oblique injury he suffered Wednesday.

The Houston Astros have been dealing with some injury concerns this spring, including infielder Christian Walker.

The Astros big offseason acquisition Christian Walker was forced to sit out a spring training game Wednesday due to an oblique strain.

Here are three things we’ll be watching for around baseball today: Christian Walker was removed from the Astros’ spring training matchup against the Cardinals on Wednesday with soreness in his left oblique (per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle ).

Despite the new first baseman's optimism about his injury, Houston is sending him home for more medical tests.

Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker received some good news regarding ... Houston to get the oblique examined. Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters Friday the MRI didn’t reveal ...