Jeremy Pena Comeback Headlines Astros’ Series Closer vs. Baltimore

After missing the first two games of Houston’s weekend series against the Baltimore Orioles due to illness, Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena is back in the starting lineup for Sunday’s finale and will bat leadoff, according to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart.

Jeremy Pena began feeling “under the weather” on Friday before the series opener and underwent precautionary tests, manager Joe Espada said. He was held out of the lineup for the first two games but showed improvement on Saturday and was cleared to resume baseball activity. Jeremy Pena made two pinch-hit appearances in Houston’s 12-inning win, striking out in the 8th and drawing an intentional walk in the 11th.

His return comes at a crucial time for the Astros, who are looking to secure their fourth consecutive series win and maintain their narrow lead in the AL West. Houston currently holds a 1.5-game advantage over the surging Seattle Mariners, with the division race tightening as the season heads into its final stretch.

The Astros have felt Peña’s absence at the plate. On Friday, Orioles rookie Brandon Young delivered a dominant performance, retiring the first 23 batters he faced and carrying a perfect game into the 8th inning. Ramón Urías broke it up with a single, but Houston managed just one hit in the 7–0 loss.

Saturday’s game was a gritty bounce-back effort. The Astros edged Baltimore 5–4 in 12 innings, but offensive struggles continued. Houston went just 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position and left 13 men on base. The win evened the series and set the stage for a decisive finale.

Jeremy Pena has been a steady contributor since returning from the injured list earlier this month. He’s batting .283 in August with five extra-base hits and five RBI. For the season, he owns a .317/.373/.490 slash line across 94 games, providing both contact and power from the shortstop position.

With Jeremy Pena back atop the lineup, Houston hopes to jumpstart its offense and close out the series strong at Daikin Park. The Astros are hoping to gain momentum as the postseason race heats up, and first pitch is scheduled for this afternoon.