TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (65-66) and New York Yankees (74-56) begin a 3-game series in the Bronx tonight.
Rookie RHP Ethan Pecko (0-0, 4.91 ERA) will make his 2nd career start tonight as he takes on Yankees RHP Will Warren (8-6, 4.43 ERA).
ASTROS-YANKEES: The Astros are 1-2 vs. NYY this season, with the Yankees taking 2 of 3 at Daikin Park, April 24-26. In their last visit to the Bronx, the Astros took 2 of 3 from the Yankees, Aug. 8-10 of 2025.
All-Time: In the regular season, the Astros
are 37-54 vs. NYY.
Postseason: The Astros have won all 4 postseason series that they have played vs. the Yankees (2015, ‘17, ‘19, ‘22) and have a combined record of 13-5 (.722) in those games.
NY STATE OF MIND: Tonight is the 1st game of a 6-game road trip for the Astros, with all 6 games being scheduled in the Big Apple. After this 3-game series vs. the Yankees in the Bronx (Tues.-Thur.), the Astros will take on the Mets for a 3-game series at Citi Field in Queens over the weekend (Fri.-Sun).
Last Time It Happened: The Astros had a similar road series in NYC, June 23-29 of 2022, during which they played 4 games at Yankee Stadium (2-2) and 2 games at Citi Field (2-0), respectively.
YOUNG ETHAN: Tonight will be the 2nd ML start/ app. for 24-year-old rookie RHP Ethan Pecko. He made his ML debut with a start vs. LAA on Aug. 19 (3.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO), ending with a no decision in a 3-2 Astros victory at Daikin Park. Pecko, who is a native of Darby, PA, 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 6th-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.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES: To today’s Astros starter RHP Ethan Pecko, who turns 24 years old today.
VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!: With RHP Ethan Pecko turning 24 years old today, tonight will mark the 30th time that an Astros/Colt .45s hurler has started a game on his birthday. Pecko will be the 4th Astros pitcher to do so since 2019. In the previous 3 birthday starts, Astros hurlers were dominant, combining for a 3-0 record with an 0.43 ERA, allowing just 1 ER in 21.0 IP with 24 K’s and just 7 hits allowed.
Last 3 Birthday Starts – Astros :
Hunter Brown: 8/29/24 vs. KC (W, 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 SO).
Jose Urquidy: 5/1/21 at TB (W, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 5 SO)
Gerrit Cole: 9/8/19 at SEA (W, 8.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 15 SO)
Note: RHP Larry Dierker’s 3 birthday starts are the most in franchise history. The Astros are 18-11 when a pitcher starts on his birthday.
RECENT STROS: The Astros are 2-3 in their last 5 games and 4-6 in their last 10 games.
ON THE OFFENSIVE: Among AL teams, the Astros rank 1st in SLG (.410) and 3rd in runs scored (596), HR (173) and OPS (.727).
MEASURING UP: The Astros are 32-20 (.615) vs. teams currently at .500 or above. They have winning records vs. BOS (5-1), CHC (3-0), CWS (2-1), CLE (4-2), MIA (3-0), TB (2-1), TEX (9-4).
TRIPLE THREAT: Yordan Alvarez, who is a solid candidate for the AL MVP Award, currently leads the AL in several categories, including all three Triple Crown categories. He enters tonight leading the AL in batting avg. (.320), HR (36) and RBI (90). Additionally, Alvarez also leads the Majors in OPS (1.050), SLG (.613), OBP (.436) and TB (284).
Rare Feat: Since Carl Yastrzemski won the AL Triple Crown in 1967, there has been just one Triple Crown winner in the Majors, Miguel Cabrera in 2012 (AL).
SLOW AND STEADY RECOVERY: Since starting the season with a 20-31 record after 51 games, the Astros are 45-35 (.563) in their last 80 games (since May 22). That is the 2nd-best record in the AL in that span, behind only the Red Sox (50-32).
ROAD WARRIORS: Since posting a 1-9 record on the 1st road trip of the 2026 season, the Astros have been one of the best road teams in the Majors. They are 31-22 (.585) on the road since April 14, which is 3rd-best in the AL in that span. More recently they are 15-10 (.600) on their last 4 road trips combined…. Overall for the season, HOU is 32-31 on the road.
THE HIT MAN: Jose Altuve enters tonight’s game needing just 13 hits to reach 2,500 for his career. Among active players, his 2,487 hits rank 2nd to Freddie Freeman’s 2,576.
IN GOOD COMPANY: In MLB history, Altuve is one of just 3 players with a .300 career batting avg. to reach both 250 HR and 300 SB. The other 2 are HOFers Willie Mays and Derek Jeter.
WALK OF FAME: Yordan Alvarez’s ML-high 28 intetional walks this season have set the franchise single-season record, surpassing Jeff Bagwell’s 27 intentional walks in 1997. Alvarez was intentionally walked 3 times on Sunday vs. ATH.
ONE OF THE BEST: LHP Josh Hader reached his 500th career app. recently, making him one of 12 active pitchers to reach that milestone. Hader has been stellar since returning from injury in June, going 4-1 with a 0.75 ERA (3ER/32IP), 43 strikeouts, a .119 opponent average (13×109) and a 0.75 WHIP, while converting all 18 of his save chances in 33 appearances.
DOWN ON THE FARM: Several of the Astros minor league clubs are having success this season:
• Triple A Sugar Land: In the second half, the Space Cowboys (34-17) are in 1st in the PCL East Division.
• Class A Fayetteville: For the second half, the Woodpeckers are in 1st place in the Carolina League North Division with a 32-20 (.600) record.
• Rookie Level FCL Astros: The Astros won the Florida Complex League championship, finishing with a 42-11 (.792) record in the regular season.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1992 – Shortstop Andujar Cedeno is called up from Triple A and promptly hits for the cycle in a 5-3 loss to the Cardinals in 11.0 innings. Cedeno’s cycle marked the 4th time an Astro had achieved this milestone.
1972 – In 4-3 loss to the Expos, Jimmy Wynn hits his 200th career HR. Additionally, prior to the game, the Astros replace manager Harry Walker with Leo Durocher.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, August 25, 6:05 p.m. CT
Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; KTRH 740 AM; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
