HOUSTON -- Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña was out of the lineup for a second consecutive game on Friday while he recovers after taking a 100 mph pitch off his right hand on Wednesday.
Peña was on the field pregame taking ground balls prior to Friday’s series opener against the Athletics at Daikin Park. Astros manager Joe Espada said fielding isn’t an issue, but Peña is still in some pain swinging the bat. However, he could be available off the bench on Friday and potentially return to the lineup on Saturday.
Peña has been the Astros’ second-best hitter this season after American League MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez, but he is in a 5-for-52 (.096) slump. Still, Houston is 43-33 when Peña is in the starting lineup this season, compared to 21-31 when he’s on the bench.
Peña spent 10 days on the injured list in early July with a left calf strain. He was sidelined for more than a month in April with a right hamstring strain.
Peña suffered a fracture to the tip of his right ring finger during an exhibition game while playing for the Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic team against the Tigers in March. That took him out of the WBC, but he managed to avoid the IL to begin the regular season.