Convenience Big Store: Where's Jeremy Peña's playoff form?

Summer Sale: ONLY 25¢!
Dive into local news with Unlimited Digital Access.
Subscribe Today.

Today's starting lineup

The Astros open an important homestand against Seattle on Friday. The Mariners have been one of the hottest teams in the AL since the All-Star break and are closing in on a wild-card spot.

Houston has done pretty well in August itself. One reason is Jeremy Peña, who is starting to find his playoff form. After reaching late July with a .232 batting average, the second-year Astro has hit .319 over his last 19 games, but his power is down. Matt Kawahara explains what Peña is doing differently at the plate.

As the Texans wrapped up two days of workouts with the Dolphins in advance of Saturday's game, it was a reunion for DeMeco Ryans and Miami coach Mike McDaniel. Their careers have intertwined since Ryans was a rookie with the Texans and McDaniel was on Gary Kubiak's staff.

When the teams play Saturday, C.J. Stroud will get another start and might play more than the two series he did last week against the Patriots.

The NBA unveiled its 2023-24 schedule, and the Rockets home opener is a doozy: Golden State. Matt Young takes a look at 10 games you don't want to miss.

The College Football Playoff is coming to town in January. The 10th game of the CFP era will be the last in its current format before the field expands from four to 12 teams. The game's first trip to Houston will pay benefits to area teachers.

And while we're on the topic of education, a school district in Iowa has decided to ban the iconic book "Friday Night Lights."

The book tells the real story of life in Odessa in the late 1980s, and how MOJO fit into it. It is hard. It is gritty. It is an American tale. There is nothing in the book that we should hide from teenagers, Jerome Solomon writes.

Stat of the day: 60-61. The record of the New York Yankees. It's the latest in a season they've been under .500 since 1995.

Reid Laymance
Sports editor
reid.laymance@houstonchronicle.com

Astros / MLB

Houston Astros Jeremy Peña (3) reacts after striking out against Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Austin Pruitt during the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park on Friday, May 19, 2023, in Houston.

Photo by: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer

Where's Jeremy Peña's playoff form? SS works to find it at plate

After reaching late July with a .232 batting average, the second-year Astro has hit .319 over his last 19 games. But he's without a homer in his last 141 plate appearances.

On deck: Julio Rodriguez is fueling a playoff surge for the M's, whose 28-13 record since July 1 is the AL's best.
Just a bruise: AT&T SportsNet reporter Vanessa Richardson was able to laugh about the foul ball that hit her in the Astros dugout during a series against the Marlins.

Texans / NFL

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans signs autographs after practice during an NFL training camp Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, in Houston.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer

Mutual admiration society

Miami head coach Mike McDaniel first met DeMeco Ryans as a player in Houston then the pair worked together on 49ers staff

A second start: It will be the second consecutive start in the preseason for the rookie QB C.J. Stroud after he took all the first-team reps in practice for the second consecutive week.

Rockets / NBA

The Spurs' Victor Wembanyama (left), Lakers' LeBron James (center) and Warriors' Steph Curry (right) are three of the most anticipated visits by opposing players on the Rockets' 2023-24 schedule, which was released Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.

Photo by: Getty Images

10 most intriguing home games on Rockets' 2023-24 schedule

The NBA released each team's schedule on Thursday, and the Rockets' home opener is a doozy with Steph Curry, Chris Paul and the Golden State Warriors in town.

College Football

Photo by: Kirk Sides, Staff Photographer

'10 in 10' for college football title games, and Houston is 10th

While Houston has hosted three Super Bowls, the nation's fourth-largest city has never hosted a college football title game.

Smart move: The CFP foundation annually donates to teachers organizations in host cities of national title game, which will be in Houston on Jan. 8