The injury problems continue for the Houston Astros as the team announced that their star shortstop is heading back to the IL with a strained calf.
Jeremy Pena was removed late from Monday's lineup for Houston's game against the Minnesota Twins. Manager Joe Espada told reporters that Pena was complaining of left leg discomfort and was seeing the team doctors. Later in the evening, the Astros placed Pena on the 10-day IL with a left calf strain and are optimistic that it will be a minimum stint. With the MLB All-Star break just two weeks away, the Astros could opt to play it safe and give Pena an extra few days of rest.
This will be Pena's second trip to the IL this year, after missing more than a month with a right hamstring strain. He was activated from that injury on May 18, coincidentally also against the Twins. In 48 games this season, Pena has a .799 OPS with six home runs and 27 RBI. He also played through a broken finger that he suffered during the lead-up to the World Baseball Classic in March.
The Astros have underwhelmed this year, although thanks to a weak AL West division, find themselves just two games back of the division-leading Texas Rangers. Houston is also 1.5 games back of the final AL Wild Card spot currently occupied by the Seattle Mariners.
ALSO SEE:
- MLB Home Run Predictions Today: Best HR Prop Bets for Tuesday, June 30
- NRFI and YRFI MLB Bets Today: Best First Inning Predictions for Tuesday, June 30
- MLB Prop Bets Today: Best MLB Player Prop Predictions for Tuesday, June 30
A bulk of the work at shortstop will land on infielder Nick Allen, who returned from the IL on Monday. Ideally, those reps would have gone to Carlos Correa, but the veteran shortstop is out for the year after undergoing surgery to repair his ankle. While Allen is a capable defender, his offensive prowess certainly lags behind that of Pena's, and he often bats at the bottom of the order.
If it is a minimum stint, Pena could return on July 10 for the start of a crucial three-game set against the Rangers. In a corresponding move, the Astros recalled infielder Raynel Delgado from Triple-A Sugar Land.
