Peña, the Astros' All-Star shortstop, is the team’s best hitter this season with a .318 average, 13 homers and 45 RBIs in 93 games. His illness forced him out of the lineup for a second straight game, creating a temporary infield shuffle and potential short-term fantasy impact if he misses time.

Peña anchors the Astros’ top of the order, wielding an elite 82.3% contact rate and home-friendly numbers that spike against right-handed pitching. At home he posts a higher average with strong run-production potential, making him a core piece of a Pena-based SGP that leans into the Houston offense and Valdez's steady, workmanlike outings.

Peña remains a fixture at short, with Correa’s third-base return complementing the infield alignment while Paredes heals, reinforcing Houston’s infield stability and the young star’s ongoing defensive value.

Peña provides steady hit equity against Crochet, delivering a .315 mark across his at-bats against both arms this year and a 3-for-5 lifetime line versus Crochet. His ability to chip in a hit in a tight game adds depth to the Houston attack, particularly when Crochet is expected to mostly keep them in check through five innings. Peña’s reliability makes him a core piece in any Astros’ DFS or prop plan for this opener.

Peña filled Correa’s shoes in 2022, demonstrating organizational depth and a blueprint for how the Astros can absorb an elite star’s absence. His continued development alongside Correa’s return is a key subplot in Houston’s late-season push.