TONIGHT’S GAME: The first-place Astros, who own a slim 1.0-game lead in the AL West, will try to even up their series tonight in the middle game of their three-game series vs. the Angels.
RHP Ethan Pecko will get the start for the Astros tonight in his Major League debut opposite RHP Walbert Ureña (8-8) and the Angels.
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ABOUT PECKO: RHP Ethan Pecko, 23, has combined to post a 4.57 ERA (42ER/82.2IP) with 86 strikeouts in 20 games (18 starts) in the minors this season, including 17 games at Triple A.
The Astros sixth-round pick in 2023 out of Towson University (MD), Pecko has pitched in parts of four minor league seasons in the Astros system and currently ranks as the Astros No. 9 prospect per MLB.com.
THE TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 43-32 since May 22, which is the second-best record in the AL in that span.
On that date, the Astros were 20-31, 11 games under, which is their low water mark for the season.
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THAT’S OFFENSIVE: Among American League teams, the Astros rank first in slugging (.411), first in total bases (1746), second in home runs (169), third in OPS (.729), and third in runs scored (577).
In the Majors, the Astros rank third in homers, trailing only the Nationals (180) and Yankees (172).
VS. THE ANGELS: The Astros are 6-5 against the Angels this season and need just one win this week to win their sixth consecutive season series against the Angels.
The Astros 144-93 (.608) all- time record against the Angels is their best against any single opponent in franchise history.
TONIGHT’S RADIO BROADCASTS: The Astros English radio broadcast can be heard on SportsTalk
790 featuring Robert Ford and Brian Bogusevic… the Spanish radio broadcast will feature Francisco Romero and Alex Treviño on TUDN 102.9 FM.
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ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Astros dropped a 3-1 game to the Angels last night in the series opener in Houston, TX.
The Astros scored their only run on a solo homer by RF Cam Smith (1×3) in the 7th, which was one of three hits the club got on the night.
RHP Cristian Javier (2ER/4IP) started forHouston and struck out five in the outing.
ASTROS ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have selected RHP Ethan Pecko (#70) to the Major League roster and have transferred IF/OF Brice Matthews to the 60-day IL.
After last night’s game, the Astros optioned RHP Miguel Ullola to Triple A Sugar Land.
THE CLOSER: LHP Josh Hader, now in his 10th Major League season, has made 499 career appearances, needing just one more to become the 12th active Major Leaguer to reach 500 career appearances.
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Hader has been stellar since returning from injury in early June, going 4-1 with a 0.90 ERA (3ER/30IP), 41 strikeouts, a .126 opponent average (13×103) and a 0.77 WHIP, while also converting all 17 of his save opportunities in 31 appearances.
THROWING STRIKES: LHP Steven Okert has not allowed a walk in 22 consecutive appearances (since June 28), which spans 22.0 innings pitched.
Some notes on his streak:
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Okert is closing in on the club record for consecutive walkless apps. in a single season, which is 24 straight, posted by RHP Pat Neshek from April 8-June 2, 2015.
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Only RHP Garrett Whitlock (27g) has had a longer streak of consecutive walkless apps. in MLB in 2026.
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per Elias, Okert’s streak of 22.0 consecutive innings without a walk is the fifth-longest by a reliver in a single season in franchise history, and the longest since RHP Wilton Lopez had a streak of 22.1 consecutive walkless innings from April 8-May 17, 2012.
MVP-CALIBER: Yordan Alvarez holds the lead in all AL Triple Crown categories, ranking first in average (.318), first in HR (36) and first in RBI (88).
Additionally, he leads MLB in OPS (1.044), OBP (.431), SLG (.613), and TB (276).
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In the AL, he ranks first in XBH (61), second in hits (143) and in walks (86), and tied for second in runs (82).
YOR-GONE!: DH Yordan Alvarez has hit 36 home runs this season, which leads the AL.
He’s just one homer shy of matching his career high in homers (37 HR in 2022) and is 11 homers shy of matching the franchise record for a single season, set by 1B Jeff Bagwell in 2000 (47 HR).
AUGUST HEROES: RF Cam Smith is hitting .356 (16×45) with four homers, eight RBI and a 1.072 OPS in 14 games this month.
2B Jose Altuve is also having a strong month, hitting .347 (17×49) with a .421 OBP and an .890 OPS in 14 games in August.
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DOWN ON THE FARM: Several of the Astros minor league clubs are having success this season:
• Triple A Sugar Land: In second half action, the Space Cowboys are in first place in the PCL East Division with a 31-15 (.674) record.
• Class A Fayetteville: For the second half, the Woodpeckers are in first place in the South Atlantic League North Division with a 27-20 (.574) record.
• Rookie Level FCL Astros: The Astros won the Florida Complex League championship, finishing with a 42-11 (.792) record in the regular season.
• Rookie Level DSL Astros: The DSL Astros Orange team finished with a 33-20 record and have clinched a spot in the DSL playoffs, which begin tomorrow.
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Game Info
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, August 19, 7:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
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