Why Jeremy Pena isn't playing today for Astros despite making Opening Day roster

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Why Jeremy Pena isn't playing today for Astros despite making Opening Day roster originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Houston Astros entered the 2026 MLB season with a major logjam in the infield and will need to figure out how to best move forward with such a crowded group.

While Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker might have uncertain playing time in 2026, Jeremy Pena, the starting shortstop, should be in the lineup consistently. However, for Opening Day against the Los Angeles Angels, Pena isn't in the lineup.

He made the Opening Day roster, a great sign considering he was coming off a fracture in his finger. But, he's not in the lineup. Chandler Rome of The Athletic revealed why the Astros' star shortstop isn't in the lineup just yet.

Why Jeremy Pena isn't in Astros lineup despite being on MLB roster​

"Reading between the lines," Rome writes, "Jeremy Pena has progressed enough not to need a full 10 days on the injured list, but is not ready to play in a major-league game yet."

Pena has recovered from his injury enough not to land on the 10-day injured list to begin the season, but he's not healthy enough to actually get into the Opening Day lineup.

Pena will sit out for a little while longer and get fully healthy before he makes his 2026 season debut. It won't be long, but he's still going to miss some time.

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While it's merely speculation from Rome at this point, it makes the most sense as to why Pena, the All-Star shortstop, has made the Opening Day roster but isn't in the Opening Day lineup.

This means that his return to the lineup should be in the next week or so, but likely not longer than 10 days, with the star shortstop avoiding the injured list.

It's an interesting situation, and one to keep monitoring for the next week or so. Hopefully, Pena returns sooner rather than later and can pick up where he left off last season with his breakout year with an .840 OPS and 132 OPS+.

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