Carlos Pena

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.

Rays signed 1B Carlos Pena to a one-year, $7.25 million contract.

The two sides agreed to terms late last week, but the deal was made official Tuesday. Pena, 33, batted .225/.357/.462 with 28 home runs and 80 RBI across 606 plate appearances last season for the Cubs. Tropicana Field isn’t nearly as favorable for left-handed power as Wrigley Field, so we’re not expecting a major bounceback in his return to the Rays. He hasn’t batted higher than .227 since 2008, so he’s only a consideration in deeper mixed and AL-only formats.