Astros' Ethan Pecko: Allows one run in short start
Rotowire
Pecko completed 4.1 innings in a no-decision against Arizona on Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and one walk while striking out two batters.
Pecko held the Diamondbacks scoreless through four frames but gave up a single to two of the three batters he faced in the fifth. The right-hander was at 81 pitches at that point, so he was lifted in favor of Enyel De Los Santos, who allowed one of the inherited baserunners to score. Pecko has completed five frames in only one of his four big-league starts so far, but this was one of his better outings to date, as the one walk and one run were both career bests. If he remains in the rotation, Pecko is scheduled to make his next start on the road against the Rays.
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Astros' Ethan Pecko: Receiving another start
Rotowire
Pecko is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Yankees in New York.
Despite a poor showing in his MLB debut last Wednesday against the Angels -- he struck out four and gave up two runs on three hits and three walks over 3.2 innings -- Pecko will end up receiving another turn through the Houston rotation. Though the Yankees rank 28th in the majors with an 80 wRC+ since the All-Star break, Pecko won't make for a comfortable streaming option coming off an underwhelming performance versus the 30th-ranked Angels (75 wRC+). Pecko could be headed back to Triple-A Sugar Land following Tuesday's start, as Mike Burrows (elbow) has pitched well in his first two rehab outings and could be ready to come off the injured list by the end of the week to replace Pecko in the rotation.
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Astros' Ethan Pecko: Called up ahead of MLB debut Wednesday
Rotowire
The Astros selected Pecko's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The 23-year-old righty will start and make his major-league debut Wednesday against the Angels after recording a 4.94 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 71:28 K:BB across 74.2 innings with Sugar Land this season. Pecko will likely need to perform well Wednesday in order to ensure he receives additional starts with the Astros, as Mike Burrows (elbow) has already completed a rehab start and could be ready to return from the 15-day injured list the next time Pecko's turn in the rotation comes up.
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Astros' Ethan Pecko: Looks like 2026 rotation depth
Rotowire
Pecko has a 1.88 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 31:8 K:BB in 24 innings over his last five starts for Triple-A Sugar Land.
A 6-foot-2 righty whom the Astros selected in the sixth round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of a small college, Pecko's stock has steadily increased in pro ball. He has impressively navigated the harsh conditions of the Pacific Coast League after a couple rough outings following his Aug. 5 promotion from Double-A Corpus Christi. Pecko has been particularly sharp of late, striking out 17 batters in 11 innings over his last two starts for the Space Cowboys. He averages 94 mph on his sinker (touches 96 mph), but it plays above its velocity due to excellent late movement. His 83-mph slider and 89-mph cutter are his top two secondary offerings. Pecko has a chance to spend a good chunk of next season in the big-league rotation if he picks up where he's leaving off in 2025.
