Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña appears on track to return from a calf injury during the club’s final series before the All-Star break.
Peña has done on-field defensive work and run the bases at Daikin Park in recent days. Houston manager Joe Espada said Peña will likely play one or two rehab games with Triple-A Sugar Land early this week in a tuneup before his potential reinstatement.
“I think we are in a good spot for him to rejoin the club at some point in that weekend series at Texas if all goes well,” Espada said.
In 48 games this season, Peña has a .295/.356/.443 slash line and a 123 OPS-plus. Entering Sunday, the Astros were 25-20 with the shortstop and leadoff hitter in their starting lineup and 19-27 without him.
The Astros will conclude their first half with a six-game road trip to play the Nationals and Rangers, who were in second place in the American League West entering Sunday, a half-game behind Seattle and two games ahead of Houston.