Astros Shuffle Infield as Jeremy Peña Lands on IL with Calf Strain

The Houston Astros are dealing with another hit to their lineup. Shortstop Jeremy Peña is headed to the 10-day injured list with a mild left calf strain, the team confirmed Monday. Manager Joe Espada told reporters after a 5-4 loss to the Twins that he expects the stint to be short.

“It’s going to be a minimum — hopefully minimum — IL stint,” Espada said. “Hopefully, it won’t take him very long to get back.”

Peña missed Monday’s game entirely and will now miss at least the next week and a half. The 28-year-old was hitting .295 with six home runs and 21 RBIs through 48 games this season. That’s solid production, especially for a guy who’s already missed 32 games earlier this year with a hamstring strain.

The timing is rough for Houston. They’re already dealing with Jose Altuve’s leg issue — he left Saturday’s game early and hasn’t played since. And with the trade deadline approaching, the Astros sit at 42-45, third in the AL West. That’s not great for a team that’s been to the ALCS seven years running.

Who steps in at short?

That’s the open question right now. The Astros haven’t named a replacement, but don’t be surprised to see Mauricio Dubón or maybe even a minor league call-up get some run at shortstop. Altuve’s status is murky too, so the infield could look pretty different for a few days.

Tuesday night the Astros face the Twins again, trying to shake off Monday’s loss. Peña’s stint on the IL is retroactive to Sunday, so the earliest he could return is around the All-Star break — assuming that calf heals clean.

Espada sounded optimistic, which is about all you can ask for with a soft tissue injury. Hamstrings and calves are tricky, especially for a guy who relies on quick first steps in the field. But if this really is a 10-day deal, Houston can live with that.

The bigger question is whether the front office uses this as an excuse to make a move before the deadline. Injuries up and down the roster have made the Astros look vulnerable. A buyer at the deadline? Maybe. But they need to start winning some games first.