As of now, it doesn't look like the door is completely closed on Jeremy Peña, and he is still in play for Opening Day.
Peña suffered a finger injury while representing the Dominican Republic earlier this month, resulting in a fracture on the tip of his finger.
Over the last few weeks, there has been plenty of Opening Day lineup speculation. Most projected lineups did not include Peña due to his injury, but he has not been officially ruled out.
Jeremy Peña returned to game action in the Astros’ final exhibition against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, going 1-for-4 at the plate and hitting a 394-foot two-run home run in the sixth inning to help secure a 6-5 win.
Despite the strong showing, he has not officially been confirmed for Opening Day, as the team is continuing to monitor how his finger responds after nearly three weeks out while he works to regain his timing at the plate. Peña’s finger is said to be feeling good and is no longer considered a major concern, and there is growing optimism about his return after he showed good at-bats, solid plate discipline, and no physical setbacks in the game.
If Peña is able to return in time, it would provide a major boost to the Astros' infield, both defensively and offensively, keeping one of their most important players in his usual role.
Here is a look at a projected Houston Astros Opening Day lineup for 2026 if Peña is ready to play on March 26:
Shortstop (SS): Jeremy Peña
Second Base (2B): José Altuve
Designated Hitter (DH): Yordan Alvarez
Third Base (3B): Carlos Correa (or Isaac Paredes)
Catcher (C): Yainer Díaz
First Base (1B): Christian Walker
Left Field (LF): Zach Cole
Right Field (RF): Cam Smith
Center Field (CF): Jake Meyers
This lineup keeps the Astros balanced while maximizing defensive stability and offensive firepower.
The Astros will likely take a cautious approach, but Peña’s progress over the next few days could play a key role in shaping the final lineup. His presence would not only strengthen the infield but also add stability to the lineup as a whole.
With Opening Day only a day away, the next few hours will present a clearer picture of whether Peña is fully healed and ready for the start of the 2026 season.