The Houston Astros just absorbed a major blow to their lineup and, potentially, their postseason hopes. Star shortstop Jeremy Peña has been placed on the 10-day injured list with what the team called a “small” fracture in his left ribs, suffered after being hit by a pitch from Cubs rookie Cade Horton on Friday. Although the initial X-rays came back negative, lingering discomfort prompted additional scans, which ultimately revealed the fracture.
The team hasn’t announced a timetable for his return, and a corresponding roster move is expected later Monday. But make no mistake—this is a major loss.
Peña’s Breakout Season Interrupted
Peña was in the middle of the best season of his young career, playing like an American League MVP finalist. The numbers speak for themselves. He has a .322/.378/.489 slash line, 11 home runs, 18 doubles, 15 steals, and elite defensive play at short. Statistically, he’s been a top-three player in the majors this season by WAR—neck and neck with Shohei Ohtani and Cal Raleigh, trailing only Aaron Judge.
While some of that production has come with a bit of luck (.360 BABIP), there’s a lot more than batted-ball fortune driving the surge. Peña has improved his plate discipline, bumping his walk rate from 3.8% to 5.7% and shaving down his strikeout rate to a career-best 15.7%. Most notably, he’s doing more damage on balls hit in the air. His average airborne exit velocity has jumped nearly three mph, a sign of stronger swings and better pitch selection.
Astros Replacing Peña? There’s No Real Match
In Peña’s absence, Mauricio Dubón has filled in at shortstop. The veteran utilityman brings steady defense, but he’s no match at the plate. His .239/.278/.390 line this year tracks closely with his career norms, and the offensive drop-off from Peña to Dubón is sharp.
The Astros do have internal options, but each comes with caveats. Former first-rounder Brice Matthews is tearing it up in Triple-A (.285/.403/.492), flashing big walk numbers but also a high 28.5% strikeout rate. He’s not on the 40-man roster and isn’t Rule 5-eligible this winter, but he’s very much in the conversation—especially if Peña’s absence extends beyond a few weeks.
Others in the mix include Shay Whitcomb, who is on the 40-man but hasn’t seen much action at shortstop in 2025, and minor leaguers Zack Short and Greg Jones, neither of whom are on the 40-man. The longer Peña is out, the more the front office may have to weigh short-term reliability against long-term development.
For Houston, It’s About Surviving the Stretch
The reality is there’s no plugging in a replacement and expecting anything close to what Peña has produced this year. This isn’t a shortstop going cold. This is an MVP-level performer being removed from the lineup during one of the best stretches of his career.
Houston’s depth will be tested. Their options are capable of holding down the position defensively, but there is a significant gap offensively. If Peña’s time on the IL lingers into August, expect the Astros to seriously consider promoting Matthews or even exploring external options in Major League Baseball as the trade deadline approaches.
