Pena, who landed on first base awkwardly for the final out of Sunday's ALDS Game 2 loss to the Twins, was spotted taking infield with his teammates during Monday's workout, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Pena appeared to be walking around gingerly after being retired for the final out Sunday, but it seems like he got through Monday's workout with no issues. Expect him to start at shortstop as the Astros look to regain the series edge Tuesday.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Three-hit effort in loss
Rotowire
Pena went 3-for-4 in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Mariners.
All three of Pena's hits were singles. The shortstop had endured a sophomore slump for part of the campaign, but he's hitting .297 (27-for-91) in September. That's lifted his season batting average to .264 with a .707 OPS, 10 home runs, 13 stolen bases, 51 RBI and 81 runs scored over 146 contests. He's locked in for a starting role, though he still hits in the bottom third of the lineup regularly.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Records two steals
Rotowire
Pena went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Royals.
Pena had gone nearly a whole month since his last steal Aug. 25. In the 24 games between thefts, he hit .316 (31-for-98) with 10 extra-base hits, eight RBI and 20 runs scored. The second-year shortstop hasn't matched his power output from 2022, but his walk rate and on-base percentage have risen while his strikeout rate has decreased, indicating a better approach at the plate. For the year, Pena has a .262/.323/.383 slash line with 10 home runs, 13 steals, 51 RBI and 81 runs scored over 143 contests.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Hitting well in September
Rotowire
Pena went 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI on Monday against the Orioles.
Pena delivered an RBI single in the sixth inning and later came around to score in the same frame, a continuation of his positive performance in September. He has yet to go deep but has hit .292 with three RBI and 13 runs scored across 16 games for the month. Overall, Pena has shown improved plate discipline as compared to his rookie season, though he's seen a disappointing dip in power -- highlighted by a drip in his ISO from .173 to .123.
Pena went 5-for-6 with a triple, a double and three RBI in Sunday's 17-4 win over the Tigers.
Pena began his day with a double and also tripled home three runs in the eighth. He's enjoying his best month of the season at the plate, slashing .333/.426/.425 with seven RBI, 15 runs and a 13:18 BB:K in 24 games. Pena has not been able to replicate the same power he showcased his rookie season with just 10 home runs compared to the 22 he hit last year. Sunday was his first game with multiple extra base hits since June 9 and his first game with multiple RBI since he had four July 29.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Swipes 11th bag
Rotowire
Pena went 0-for-1 with a walk and a stolen base Friday against the Tigers.
Pena had an unconventional but still productive game, as he reached base on catcher interference and an error in addition to his walk. That gave him the opportunity to swipe his 11th base of the season, matching his total from 2022. Pena has maintained a .299 batting average across 22 games in August, but he has only five extra-base hits and no home runs in that span.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Gets breather Sunday
Rotowire
Pena isn't in the Astros' lineup Sunday against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Pena has been red-hot at the plate lately, slashing .333/.447/.385 in 47 plate appearances since the start of August. He'll get a day to rest Sunday while Grae Kessinger starts at shortstop and bats eighth.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Heating up
Rotowire
Pena went 3-for-4 with one double, one RBI and two runs scored in Friday's victory over the Angels.
Pena has been demoted to the bottom third of the Astros lineup in five of his last six games, but this performance marks his fourth multi-hit effort in his last 10 games. After bottoming out with a .205 average and only one home run in July, Pena has responded with 12 hits and seven walks in 43 plate appearances thus far in August. His glove keeps him in the lineup, and continued production like this will help return him to the top of a potent Astros lineup.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Piling up multi-hit games
Rotowire
Pena went 2-for-2 with two walks and a run scored Tuesday against the Guardians.
Pena tallied his fourth multi-hit performance in his last six starts, and he's also worked four free passes in that span. He had a dreadful July during which he hit just .205, but he appears to be coming out of the prolonged slump. Pena still has only a .679 OPS on the season, primarily because he has a disappointing 10 home runs across 409 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Lacking signs of improvement
Rotowire
Pena went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base Friday against the Rays.
Pena enjoyed a productive game, nabbing his 10th stolen base of the season and second since the return from the All-Star break. Despite hitting second in the order in seven of the team's last nine games, he has also shown few signs of improvement at the plate by hitting .206 with only two RBI and four runs scored in that span. Pena has had a disappointing season overall, as he's maintained only an 82 wRC+ and .289 wOBA across 391 plate appearances for the campaign.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Registers ninth steal
Rotowire
Pena went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs scored in Friday's 6-4 win over the Athletics.
Pena dealt with a hamstring cramp over the weekend, but that appears to be behind him. Friday marked his first multi-hit effort since July 5 -- he went just 4-for-36 over the nine games in between. The shortstop is at a .239/.292/.381 slash line with 10 home runs, nine steals, 33 RBI and 46 runs scored through 87 contests this season.
Astros manager Dusty Baker said in an interview on SportsTalk 790 in Houston on Tuesday that Pena (hamstring) will be back in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Colorado.
A hamstring cramp necessitated Pena's removal from Saturday's game versus the Angels and he didn't play Sunday. However, it looks like the shortstop is good to go following Monday's off day.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Out of lineup Sunday
Rotowire
Pena (hamstring) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
Pena left Saturday's game after appearing to tweak something during his at-bat in the 10th inning. Manager Dusty Baker confirmed after the game that it's a hamstring issue for Pena, though he was optimistic that it was just a cramp, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Grae Kessinger will get a turn at shortstop with Pena banged up.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Exits with apparent injury
Rotowire
Pena was removed from Saturday's game versus the Angels in the 10th inning with an apparent injury, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Pena looked to tweak something in the back of his right leg on a swing in the top of the 10th inning. He stayed in the game to finish his plate appearance but was removed for defense prior to the bottom of the frame. The Astros should have more on Pena's condition soon.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Homers in return
Rotowire
Pena went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run Wednesday against the Rockies.
Pena returned from a five-game absence caused by neck stiffness. He popped his 10th homer of the season but only his second across his last 26 games. In that same span, he has only six total extra-base hits with six RBI and 13 runs scored. Pena hasn't taken the step forward some had hoped for in his second season, but he's settled in to provide decent production across the board, as he has eight stolen bases and a combined 73 runs and RBI across 77 games on the campaign.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Starting Wednesday
Rotowire
Pena (neck) is starting at shortstop and batting eighth Wednesday versus the Rockies, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Pena will return to the lineup after a five-game absence with neck stiffness. He currently holds a five-game hit streak, batting .261 with a home run, three RBI and four runs scored over that stretch.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Expected back Wednesday
Rotowire
Pena (neck) is expected back in the Astros' lineup Wednesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Pena is out of the lineup Tuesday for a fifth straight game due to neck stiffness, but he worked out pregame and appears nearly fully healthy. Mauricio Dubon is getting another start at shortstop Tuesday.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Still out Tuesday
Rotowire
Pena (neck) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's tilt versus the Rockies, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Pena did take part of Jose Urquidy's (shoulder) live batting practice session pregame but will miss a fifth straight contest with neck tightness. It still seems likely that he'll be able to avoid a stint on the injured list. Mauricio Dubon will handle shortstop Tuesday.
