Jeremy Peña Power Surge Keeps Astros Alive In AL West Race
· Yahoo Sports
Jeremy Peña provided the spark the Houston Astros desperately needed on Saturday. The shortstop hit two home runs and drove in four runs during a big win against the Athletics. This performance keeps Houston in the hunt for the American League West title.
The Astros are currently in a tight race with the Texas Rangers. Both teams are struggling with records of 80-81. While the division battle looks more like a fight between small dogs than giants, the stakes are high. Houston clinched the AL West on Sunday, finishing 81-81 after Texas lost its finale.
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Peña finds his power despite September struggles
It is easy to ignore Peña because of his recent slump. According to Pitcher List, he is hitting only .213 with a .632 OPS during his 91 plate appearances this month. He also followed a bad August where his average was just .204. However, you cannot ignore the strength he is showing. He has recorded 15 home runs since the All-Star Break, which is much higher than the six he hit in the first half of the year.
The big issue for his fantasy value is the lack of discipline. He has 78 strikeouts and only nine walks since the break. He hits the ball hard, but the swings and misses are still there. Even with those flaws, he remains a top-10 fantasy offensive player this year. He has achieved this despite having fewer than 500 plate appearances.
Other big hitters found success Saturday
The night was not just about Houston. Other players also had massive games that impacted their fantasy rosters. Brayan Rocchio of the Cleveland Guardians hit two home runs and two RBIs. He is currently sitting on 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases for the year. His performance helped Cleveland clinch another AL Central title.
The power was visible across the league on Saturday. Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies also hit two home runs, bringing his season total to 41. He still struggles with a 33.9% whiff rate, but his production is hard to ignore. Patrick Bailey of the Cleveland Guardians also recorded two home runs and three RBIs in an 11-5 win over the Royals.
The Astros finished the regular season as AL West champions, securing their return in October.