{
  "id": 8401649,
  "title": "If Houston Astros are to win AL West, it will start with Jeremy Peña. Here's why",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/if-houston-astros-are-to-win-al-west-it-will-start-with-jeremy-pena",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-19T06:36:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/houston-astros-win-al-west-063637397.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "If the Houston Astros hope to secure a playoff berth in the AL West, their offensive strategy hinges on shortstop Jeremy Peña. After a weekslong slump, Peña made a sudden resurgence in a three-game series against the Royals, batting .276 with a .327 OBP. The hitting coaches intervened, identifying and addressing a mechanical issue in Peña's swing. By finding a consistent position to deliver his swing, Peña eliminated unnecessary movement, resulting in better contact with pitches. His performance in the series against Kansas City marked a significant turnaround for the Astros' offense, which had scored the third-fewest runs in the majors during his previous 35-game stretch.",
  "summary": "How Jeremy Peña goes at the plate, is often how the Astros go. With eight games left, he needs a not streak.",
  "key_points": [
    "Jeremy Peña crucial for Astros' AL West bid",
    "Peña rebounds with .276 average in 3-game series",
    "Hitting coaches fix swing issue, boost contact"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Jeremy Peña's resurgence puts the Houston Astros in a better position to compete for the AL West, as his improved performance can help boost the team's anemic offense.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}