Thomas Shea-Imagn Images Somehow the Astros dropped the series opener to the worst team in baseball, losing 3-1. They are still leading the AL West, but just barely; Texas is right on their heels, only one game back. They can't seem to give themselves some breathing room even against the worst team in the league. They have a chance to even out the series this evening, and it is crucial they get back on track. Dropping the series against the Angels would be just embarrassing. The second game of the series: Wednesday, 7:10 PM at Daikin Park. Astros (63-63) vs. Angels (50-76). Pitching has been an issue all season, and the staff has been thinning from the beginning; the result is Ethan Pecko getting a chance to make his major league debut. So here is a look at the pitching matchup for Wednesday's game. Walbert Ureña [https://www.mlb.com/player/walbert-urena-700712] (8-8, 2.67 ERA, 102 SO) Ureña takes the mound for Los Angeles, one of the better rookie arms in the American League this year. Opposite him is Ethan Pecko [https://www.mlb.com/player/ethan-pecko-814490]. Pecko is making his major league debut for Houston tonight. A big night for the 23-year-old. Pecko was scratched from his scheduled Triple-A start Sunday without explanation, a strong signal that something was coming. The move became official Monday. He's Houston's No. 9 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, and was named the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year back in 2024. His 2026 numbers at Triple-A aren't exactly attention-grabbing: 4-6 with a 4.57 ERA and 86 strikeouts over 82.2 innings [https://www.mlb.com/player/ethan-pecko-814490?stats=career-r-pitching-minors&year=2026], but that ERA doesn't show the full picture of who he is as a pitcher. His fastball has made its way to 93-95 mph, sometimes hitting 98, and he pairs it with a slider, cutter, curveball, and changeup. Aside from everything he has in his back pocket, if he could give them length, that would be huge. Pecko becomes Houston's 17th different starting pitcher this season, the most in all of baseball, an obvious sign that their staff has been going through it.The opportunity opened up after Ronel Blanco was optioned to Triple-A following a rough outing against Seattle. It should be a low-pressure opportunity against a bad Angels lineup, but after Tuesday's game, the stakes are a little higher. Houston's division lead is down to just one game over Texas, and length from a starter, any starter, is exactly what this team needs tonight.
