Astros hit with brutal injury blow as Jeremy Pena lands on IL with small rib fracture

The Houston Astros have to deal with some bad news as shortstop Jeremy Pena has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a small fracture on the left side of his ribs. Jeremy Pena has been a model of consistency for the Astros, at the plate and in the field, and this is an important time of year. This is a big loss for a now desperate roster in the American League West.Last Friday, Jeremy Pena was struck by an 89.0 mph changeup from Chicago Cubs right-hander Cade Horton. He remained in for one more at-bat before being taken out of the game after the pitch hit him on the left side. Pena has been unavailable ever since, and his status loomed over the weekend.Pena was initially listed on the day-to-day list with rib soreness, and X-rays ruled out fractures. Yet the team opted to have an MRI to be able to visualise an image, as he was suffering from harsh pain, especially when he attempted to twist his body or take a deep breath. Images revealed a minor break on the left side of his ribs, and after deliberation, the team had no choice but to make the difficult decision to place him on the injured list.Jeremy Pena is having an All-Star type of year. The 27-year-old shortstop is batting with a glaze .322/ .378/ .489 in 82 games, with 11 homers and 15 steals. His 4.6 WAR not only approaches his top career WAR of 5.0 in his rookie season in 2022, but it also rates second in all of major league baseball (trailing only Aaron Judge's 5.9). Also Read: “Came ready to win”- Astros Jeremy Pena reveals his confident side after defeating MetsWithout Pena, the Astros can bump utility man Mauricio Dubon into the full-time role, but even if Dubón offers defensive versatility, he does not have what Peña offers at the plate and that raises the possibility for the team to seek Triple-A call-ups or even stopgap trade options, at least depending on Pena's path forward. Manager Joe Espada classified the injury as “minor,” but there is no firm timetable for Pena’s return, and any extended absence could further complicate the Astros’ playoff push.