It's time we had an honest conversation about Astros' Jeremy Pena
WELL SAID
28 July 2023
The Astros took a calculated risk when they decided to let Carlos Correa walk in free agency and replace him with rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena. Pena went on to be the ALCS and World Series MVP for the 2022 World Champion Houston Astros. What a start to a career.
This season, Pena has struggled to replicate the way he was swinging the bat in the postseason, hitting just .235 for the 'Stros. Many fans and media members are disappointed with the production, with some looking to include Pena in trade packages with the deadline approaching.
Let's all just take a moment and relax. How quickly we forget. Pena will be just fine, and there's no reason for him to be going anywhere. It's only his second season in the big leagues, he has time to figure things out. His difficulty with hitting sliders has been an ongoing issue, and it's caused him to struggle with fastballs as well.
Pena's performance in the finale of the Rangers series showed us some encouraging signs. He went 2-4 with a double and single off of fastballs. And he's back in the No. 2 spot in the lineup, where he's been most productive.
And just for curiosity’s sake, how is the Astros former shortstop Carlos Correa playing this season? Would you be surprised to learn he has a lower batting average than Pena? Correa is currently hitting .228 for the Twins.
Be sure to check out the video above as we discuss Pena's underwhelming performance this year, and share our thoughts on why there's no reason to panic about Pena moving forward.
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Astros look to stay in control as division pace quickens
Jun 18, 2025, 4:13 pm
Coming off a dominant offensive performance, the Houston Astros return to the field Wednesday night looking to keep their momentum rolling against the Athletics. Cam Smith’s four-hit breakout powered a 13-3 rout on Tuesday, and now the Astros aim to take control of the series in Game 3 of the four-game set.
Houston, sitting atop the AL West at 42-31, will send left-hander Framber Valdez to the mound. Valdez has been in strong form all season, posting a 7-4 record with a 3.10 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 2025. He’ll be looking to build on Houston’s recent pitching success. The Astros have held opponents to a 2.60 ERA over their last 10 games while going 7-3 in that span and outscoring opponents by 24 runs.
The A’s will counter with veteran right-hander Luis Severino, who enters with a 2-6 record and a 4.47 ERA. While his season has been inconsistent, Severino still has the ability to miss bats and will look to keep an Astros lineup in check that’s hitting .271 over its last 10 contests.
The Athletics come in at 30-45 overall and 13-24 at home, and though they've dropped three of four to the Astros this season, the power potential is always there. The A’s have launched 92 home runs so far — seventh-most in the majors — with Tyler Soderstrom and Max Muncy continuing to anchor the offense. Soderstrom has already racked up 14 homers and 45 RBIs on the year, while Muncy has gone deep three times over his last 10 games.
Houston’s offense has been steadily rising, fueled by key performances from both veterans and emerging talent. Jeremy Peña continues to provide steady production with 15 doubles and nine homers on the year, while rookie Cam Smith has caught fire, going 14-for-40 with four doubles and two homers in his last 10 games.
The Astros are 33-13 this season when they out-hit their opponent, and they’ll look to follow that blueprint again Wednesday. First pitch is set for 10:05 p.m. EDT in West Sacramento, with Houston holding a 3-1 edge in the season series.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -162, Athletics +136; over/under is 9 runs
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