Astros Activate Jeremy Peña, DFA Cody Bolton After Altuve Injury

The Houston Astros activated shortstop Jeremy Peña from the injured list ahead of their series opener in Minnesota while placing Jose Altuve on the IL with a Grade 2 left oblique strain. With Peña returning from a five-week absence due to a right hamstring strain and Altuve sidelined, the Astros are reshuffling their lineup and roster to maintain competitiveness.

Peña is set to re-enter the lineup at the top of the order for tonight's game against Twins rookie left-hander Kendry Rojas. The 26-year-old had been hitting .256 in his first 10 games before his injury but has yet to hit a home run this season. His return gives the Astros a more consistent offensive presence at shortstop and could help stabilize a lineup that has struggled at times.

With Peña back, Carlos Correa's role as the team's primary shortstop ends after he underwent season-ending ankle surgery. Over the past two weeks, the Astros have used Braden Shewmake and Nick Allen at short. Shewmake has outperformed Allen and will now move to second base in Altuve’s absence. Shewmake, a career .241/.305/.384 hitter in Triple-A, has hit well recently but remains unproven in a more prominent role at the MLB level.

To bolster their pitching staff, the Astros recalled right-hander Jason Alexander from Triple-A Sugar Land for the third time this season. Alexander has not pitched in the minors since last Tuesday, and his call-up comes as starter Tatsuya Imai enters a shaky start to his MLB season. Imai has only gone more than four innings once in four starts and allowed six earned runs in his last outing against the Seattle Mariners.

Cody Bolton was designated for assignment to make room on the roster. The 27-year-old right-hander has struggled in his 20 innings with the Astros this season, posting a 5.40 ERA and a 14.8% walk rate. His inability to get hitters to chase pitches has led to frequent free passes, and with no more options remaining, Houston must either trade him or expose him on waivers by Friday.

The Astros now face the challenge of finding a replacement for Altuve and filling a void in their rotation. Peña's return and Alexander’s addition offer immediate help, but the team must act quickly to address the long-term impact of Altuve’s injury and Imai’s inconsistency. The next five days will determine Bolton’s fate and set the stage for the Astros’ next steps in their playoff push.