The Houston Astros placed shortstop Jeremy Peña on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain and pitcher Tatsuya Imai on the 15-day injured list with right arm fatigue on Monday in Seattle. The moves exacerbate a seven-game losing streak and mounting pitching injuries, following Imai's return to Houston for testing after Friday's rough outing.
Peña felt tightness behind his right knee in the fourth inning of Saturday's game against the Mariners and sat out Sunday. He expressed disappointment but optimism, stating, “It sucks... everything happens for a reason, and we’re going to work to get back.” This comes after a fractured ring finger from March's World Baseball Classic limited his spring; he's hit .256/.304/.349 in 10 starts at shortstop. Carlos Correa has covered short, with Isaac Paredes at third. The Astros optioned right-hander Jayden Murray to Triple-A Sugar Land and recalled J.P. France, Colton Gordon, and Shay Whitcomb. Imai's placement follows his brief, command-plagued third career start Friday—detailed in prior coverage—and subsequent testing in Houston. Manager Joe Espada noted further evaluations Monday. These add to Houston's rotation crisis, with Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier on the 15-day IL for Grade 2 right shoulder strains, and Cody Bolton exiting Sunday with back tightness. At 6-10 and last in the AL West, the Astros have been outscored 58-33 during the skid, allowing 6.31 runs per game. Espada remains defiant: “We’ll fight through this.”