The Astros rotation has been in shambles for the majority of the season, between injuries, rough performances, and additions that did not pan out the way Dana Brown or Joe Espada had hoped.
So the solution was to bring up Ethan Pecko, and while he only has two major league starts under his belt, it definitely gives a better idea of who he is as a pitcher at the major league level.
Pecko actually contributed to the only win against the Angels in the brutally ugly series for the Astros, and while he gave up two homers against the Yankees, he held his own for an intimidating New York City start.
Here is a look at his two major league starts so far:
Debut: Aug. 19 vs. Angels
Pecko struck out four batters in his major league debut, working 3.2 innings and allowing two runs on three hits. It wasn't clean; he walked three, but it was enough to hand off to the bullpen, and Houston pulled out the win, per Yahoo Sports.
Start #2: Aug. 25 vs. Yankees
Ethan Pecko made his second major league start on his 24th birthday, against the New York Yankees. He started the game throwing nothing but strikes, but after a few walks, he wasn't looking as good.
Pecko went 4.1 innings, allowing five hits and five runs while walking two, and did not factor into the decision, per Yahoo Sports.
A pattern is starting to show through two outings: Pecko comes out attacking the zone early, then his command slips as the pitch count grows. He walked three in his debut and two more against the Yankees, and both times the free passes led directly to damage.
It's a limited sample to judge from, but it's the same story twice in a row. Could he be a better fit as a reliever or closer down the line? It will be interesting to see how he performs in his next start to see whether this is really a pattern for him or if he is just finding his footing on the major league mound.
While the Astros continue to try to hold on to the division lead, they are also trying not to wear out all their arms, especially since they have so few. So while Ethan Pecko does not have an official next start, it is highly likely we will see him out there on the hill again in the regular season.
