Astros' Ethan Pecko: Collects first big-league win
Rotowire
Pecko (1-0) allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings to earn the win over the Mets on Sunday.
Pecko's start got off to a brutal beginning, as Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto tagged him for back-to-back solo shots on consecutive pitches. From there, Pecko settled in and got enough run support to come away with the win. He's posted a 6.23 ERA and 9:9 K:BB through 13 innings over his first three starts in the majors. It's unclear if Pecko will stick around on the Astros' roster once Mike Burrows (elbow) returns from the injured list.
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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.
