Carlos Pena went 0-for-4 on Thursday, dropping his average to .197.

As things look right now, the Astros would have been better off bringing back Carlos Lee than signing Pena. The 34-year-old Pena has just two homers and six RBI to go along with the sub-.200 average in 76 at-bats.

Carlos Pena went 3-for-5 with a couple of doubles Wednesday versus the Astros.

Pena is 5-for-8 with three doubles the last two days after starting off 2-for-23. It's actually kind of odd to see him with those three doubles and no homers. Counting all 10 seasons in which he's had 100 at-bats, just once in his career has Pena finished with more doubles than homers; he had 21 doubles and 18 homers for the Tigers in 2003.

Carlos Pena hit a two-run homer against the Mets on Saturday.

With a .238 average, two homers and three RBI in 21 at-bats, Pena is well ahead of where he was at this time last year. He hit .107 with one homer and two RBI in 56 at-bats with the Rays last spring.

Astros signed 1B Carlos Pena to a one-year, $2.9 million contract.

Pena will have a chance to earn $1.4 million more in incentives. The Astros' plan is to have Pena and Brett Wallace share the first base and DH duties, though Pena figures to wind up getting the bulk of the time at first since he's the superior defender. The 34-year-old batted just .197/.330/.354 with 19 homers for the Rays in 2012.

CBS Sports' Danny Knobler reports that the Astros have signed Carlos Pena to a one-year, $2.9 million contract.

He could also earn an additional $1.4 million in incentives. Pena is expected to first base and the DH spot with Brett Wallace, but, as the superior defender, it's likely he'll play the field most days. Pena batted just .197/.330/.354 with 19 homers for the Rays in 2012 but is a decent bounce-back candidate on a modest deal.

Carlos Pena went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in Wednesday's win over the Red Sox.

He took Jon Lester deep in the fifth. Pena's 19th home run of the season was his third of the month, but just his sixth in 218 plate appearances since the All-Star break. He's hitting a brutal .202/.336/.363 on the year. Provided Pena doesn't go on an epic home run barrage between now and Wednesday, the sub-.400 slugging percentage will be the first of his career.

Carlos Pena had a strong day at the dish in Sunday's 9-2 victory over the Blue Jays, going 2-for-3 with a solo home run.

Pena also walked twice in the game and scored a pair of runs. It was his 17th home run of the season, but just his second since August 1. He's been losing the lion's share of at-bats at first base to Jeff Keppinger in recent weeks, and maintains a .191/.321/.347 line with 51 RBI on the season.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said Carlos Pena will see his playing time cut going forward.

Pena's .188 batting mark is the lowest in baseball among regulars, and he hasn't provided his usual power with just 16 homers. Jeff Keppinger will play first base regularly against left-handers, while Luke Scott will share time with Pena against right-handers. "I'm just trying to utilize our best guys on a nightly basis based on who we're playing against," Maddon said. "Just trying to get the best matchups working. I'm not saying Carlos is not going to play. . It's just moving forward, some guys have been swinging the bats well."

Carlos Pena is not in Monday's lineup against the Royals.

He's taking a seat against the left-hander Will Smith. Jeff Keppinger is starting at first base and batting cleanup.

Pinch-hitter Carlos Pena hit a go-ahead homer off Kevin Jepsen in the eighth inning Saturday as the Rays beat the Angels 10-8.

The Angels blew an 8-0 lead in losing to the Rays for the third time in three days. They ended up outhitting the Rays 15-10, but they never scored after the third inning. Pena's two-run shot was his 16th homer of the season. The .191 hitter hadn't driven in a run since Aug. 1.

Carlos Pena is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Blue Jays.

Pena is batting just .163 with a .596 OPS against southpaws this season, so Rays manager Joe Maddon is switching things up with J.A. Happ on the hill for Toronto. Jeff Keppinger will make the start at first base while Ryan Roberts plays third.

Carlos Pena blasted a two-run homer in the first inning on Tuesday night, powering the Rays to a 4-2 victory over the visiting Indians.

The towering drive to right off Josh Tomlin was Pena's only hit in four trips to the plate. While he's batting just .198 on the season, he continues to draw walks (56 on the year) and hit for power (14 homers, 39 RBI). Just halfway through July, Pena's three homers this month have already matched his entire total from June.

Carlos Pena is not in the Rays' lineup Sunday.

It's just a day off. B.J. Upton is in the DH spot, with Desmond Jennings handling center field.

Carlos Pena provided the difference in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Phillies, belting a three-run homer in the eighth.

With the Rays trailing 2-0, Pena took Antonio Bastardo deep for his 10th bomb of the season. The home run was just his second of the month, however, while Pena's slash is now a Pena-esque .203/.354/.366 through Tampa's first 71 games. He needs to get his slugging percentage up for his fantasy owners' sake.

Carlos Pena will bat leadoff Tuesday night against the Blue Jays.

This is his first ever start of the leadoff spot. Pena is hitless over his last five games and is now batting just .209 on the year, so Rays manager Joe Maddon is clearly hoping to get him back to the basics of taking pitches and having quality at-bats.

Carlos Pena blasted his third home run of the season -- a solo shot -- in a 7-2 loss to the Tigers on Thursday.

He also had a single in the 2-for-3 effort. Pena is off to an incredible start with a .429/.556/.905 batting line. Somehow we don't think it will last.

Carlos Pena homered and doubled in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Yankees, helping the Rays polish off a season-opening sweep.

Pena's homecoming has started off as well as possible, as he finishes Tampa's first series of the year batting .500/.571/1.083 to go along with three extra-base hits and seven RBI. He did strike out five times in three games, however, and still can't be counted on to finish the season hitting north of .230.

Carlos Pena has been moved to the second spot in the lineup for the Rays on Saturday.

Rays manager Joe Maddon likes to have a high on-base guy hitting in the two hole, and hinted during the preseason that Pena could be a candidate for that spot. Pena had a big night in his return to the Rays on Friday and his value could increase even more with this bump in his lineup slot.

Carlos Pena delivered a grand slam in the first and a game-winning single in the ninth to lead the Rays past the Yankees 7-6 on Friday.

Pena was hitting seventh against left-hander CC Sabathia when the Rays' lineup was announced Thursday, but manager Joe Maddon changed it up today, moving him to sixth. It paid off in the first. The Yankees opted to intentionally walk Sean Rodriguez to load the bases for Pena, knowing he was 4-for-35 with 19 strikeouts against Sabathia, and Pena responded with a grand slam. His game-winner in the ninth came with the bases-loaded and one out. He hit a long fly that would have been caught normally, but with the outfield playing in to preserve the tie, it went for a single. Pena ended up 3-for-5. It was a pretty good day for a guy who hit .107 in 56 at-bats this spring.

Rays manager Joe Maddon that Carlos Pena or Luke Scott could bat second this season.

"I just think [conventional wisdom is] all based on the perception that a No. 2 hitter has to be a guy who can bunt, hit-and-run and move the runners," said Maddon. "It doesn't happen anymore. That's not part of the game right now." Neither obviously fit the mold of a prototypical No. 2 hitter, but Pena and Scott pack plenty of pop and have walked over 10 percent of the time during their careers. It's possible this could lead Desmond Jennings to steal more bases, as pitchers may be reluctant to throw fastballs to either hitter.