Houston’s Jeremy Peña sat out a second straight game due to illness as the Astros were shut out 7-0 by Baltimore. Peña, who has been the Astros’ top hitter this season, is batting .318 with 13 homers and 45 RBIs across 93 games, a fantasy anchor when in the lineup.

Mauricio Dubón started at short in Peña’s absence, providing a versatile option as Houston navigates the illness. Peña is reported to be feeling better and at the ballpark, set to begin light baseball activities to sweat the illness away. The quick health update keeps fantasy managers wary but hopeful that Peña returns soon.

For fantasy rosters, Peña’s health status is the key variable over the next few days. If Peña returns promptly, he should resume his premium role near the top of the order. If not, Dubón could inherit more steady at bats with shortstop eligibility, potentially shifting daily lineups in Houston’s favor until Peña is back in form.

Baltimore rode the shutout to a win, illustrating the daily volatility around illness in a pennant race. Fantasy players should monitor Peña’s timeline and Dubón’s role, adjusting expectations accordingly as Houston balances health and production.

Friday's MLB slate is packed with offense, and two matchups stand out for sharp fantasy bets. In Baltimore at Houston, the spotlight is on Framber Valdez against Brandon Young, a pairing that skews heavy toward Houston. The wager book leans toward an Astros win and a core Pena prop, banking on Pena reaching base and driving in runs as he thrives at home and against righties. Pena owns an elite contact profile and a robust at-home line, making the Over on 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI appealing while Valdez's home run suppression helps anchor the Under on outs in a likely six-inning outing.

In the NL West, Arizona visits Colorado with Coors Field's run-friendly backdrop. Tanner Gordon carries a rough 8.37 ERA and is targeted by Arizona's offense, notably Gurriel Jr., who crushes right-handed pitching and has produced big nights at Coors. A mixed bag SGP targets the D-Backs for five or more runs and Gurriel to reach 2+ total bases, complemented by Doyle to notch a hit in a weathered Coors contest. The playbook blends Alt totals with First-Five angles to maximize upside in a high-scoring environment.

Across both games, the themes are clear: leverage strong leadoff profiles, exploit favorable park factors, and lean into multi-hit/run-based props that capture the offense-first nature of the slate. If you want one clean throughline, it's Astros moneyline with Pena Over 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI and Diamondbacks Over Alt Total 4.5 with Gurriel 2+ Total Bases, plus Doyle to Record a Hit.

Houston's Hunter Brown extended his momentum, earning his 10th win of the season as the Astros toppled Boston 4-1. Brown delivered 6⅔ innings of one-run ball on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts, finally snapping a six-start winless streak. Offensively, Houston jumped ahead with a leadoff homer by Jeremy Peña off Walker Buehler and a two-run frame from Yainer Díaz, followed by Díaz’s two-run blast in the sixth to widen the gap. Ceddanne Rafaela provided Boston's lone RBI in the second, while Christian Walker made a highlight-reel defensive play to rob Trevor Story in the same frame. The win reinforces Houston's rotation depth and Díaz's continued breakout run, while Pena's early power gives the lineup a much-needed spark for fantasy managers relying on the middle of the order.

From a fantasy perspective, Brown’s efficiency and win upside stay appealing, especially in a favorable upcoming slate. Peña’s table-setter profile and Díaz’s multi-RBI power keep Houston’s top of the order firmly in fantasy consideration, while Rafaela’s speed and glove work add steal and run-improvement potential. Boston, meanwhile, will be chasing consistency from Story’s bat as Rafaela and the rest of the lineup try to sustain pressure on opposing starters. Defensively, Walker’s stand-in moment against Story underscores a few sharp defensive plays that can swing tight ballgames, a reminder that pitchers aren’t the only fantasy assets shaping outcomes on any given night.

Houston hosted a 7-6 thriller as three key Astros returns defined the night. Carlos Correa was back at Daikin Park, greeted with a standing ovation, and proceeded to contribute an RBI single after a brief first at-bat. Alex Bregman, visiting Houston for the first time since joining the Red Sox, belted a homer in his first plate appearance back in the city and added a single, flashing the power that keeps him in fantasy mix. Cristian Javier returned from Tommy John surgery, working five innings with five strikeouts and earning the win, signaling the Astros’ rotation depth is already trending in a favorable direction. The night underscored Houston’s mix of veteran leadership and young talent as they push for a playoff run, with Peña patrolling short and Correa sliding into third to cover for an injured Paredes.

Correa has been red-hot since the trade, slashing .390/.457/.585 across nine games for Houston and providing a floor-raising bat at the hot corner while keeping Peña at short. Bregman’s .301/.382/.541 with 15 homers in 74 games reinforces his value even amid a uniform change, while Javier’s return injects a reliable starter into Houston’s rotation. The mood and the box score carried a historic flavor too, with a trivia note about a rare road homer by a player who’d won multiple titles with his former team added as a backstory to the night. The result and the performances shape Houston’s rest-of-season outlook and fantasy implications alike.

Boston rides into Daikin Park for a pivotal three-game set against Houston, with Garrett Crochet taking the ball for the Red Sox in opener against Cristian Javier, who is returning from Tommy John surgery. The betting playbook leans Boston’s way, especially with Crochet’s AL-leading ERA (2.24) and elite strikeout rate, as the series opens in a spot where Boston’s edge is more about containment than domination. The matchup is shallow in offense but rich in small-sample drama as both teams lean on bullpen depth and tactical plate discipline.

Roman Anthony stands out as a young bat with recent hot swing metrics, drawing a plus-money prop on over 1.5 bases, while Jeremy Peña owns a favorable track record against Crochet and is priced to collect a hit in the same game. Peña’s platoon splits show solid output against both handedness, and Crochet’s recent contact allowed could buoy Peña’s odds. The push to tie five innings and force the game deeper makes the 5-inning line a plausible anchor for DFS and fantasy bets, especially with Crochet eyeing another quality start and Javier’s post-TJ return sparking intrigue.

In fantasy terms, the angle hinges on Crochet’s efficiency and Pena’s contact-heavy approach, with Anthony offering upside in a favorable Houston park. Expect a tense early rhythm, with the Red Sox eyeing an early lead and the Astros aiming to shake off rust in Javier’s return. The game stays tight through five, creating approachable value on short- to mid-range fantasy bets and mid-game live-betting opportunities as the narrative unfolds.