Two nights after Hayden Wesneski continued what has been a remarkably smooth return from Tommy John surgery, Cristian Javier matched his season high in strikeouts and gave the Houston Astros more confidence that their rotation is rounding into form.

Javier recorded eight strikeouts over five innings Friday to help lift the Astros (73-69) to a 3-1 victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks (74-68). The second contest of the three-game interleague series is Saturday.

While Wesneski lowered his ERA to 0.53 over his last three starts, Javier increased his strikeout total to 20 over his last 13 1/3 innings and three outings.

"I really think he's getting to that point where we can see that version that we've seen in the past from Javi," Astros manager Joe Espada said.

"The plan was, let's give him five (innings), 80, 85 (pitches), and that was the game plan, and he did a nice job. But the plan moving forward is: Can we see more? That was a really good version of Javi."

With Wesneski displaying fine form despite making only seven starts this season, the Astros are confident that he can slot behind ace Hunter Brown and Peter Lambert in their rotation down the stretch. How the remaining rotation options pitch could determine the Astros' postseason odds.

"They want to be part of it, and they're part of it," Espada said. "But now we need that extra push to really protect our bullpen and get some quality outings from those guys."

Rookie right-hander Ethan Pecko (1-0, 6.23 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Astros on Saturday.

Pecko notched his first career victory Sunday against the New York Mets, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings in a 6-3 win. He made his big-league debut against the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 19.

Pecko will make his first career start against the Diamondbacks and his second straight interleague start.

Right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (7-2, 3.49) has the starting assignment for the Diamondbacks. He is winless over his last three starts (0-1, 5.40 ERA) after allowing two runs on five hits and one walk with one strikeout in a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday. Pfaadt had recorded seven consecutive winning decisions across his previous nine starts, posting a 1.15 ERA.

Pfaadt is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two career starts against the Astros. In his previous start against Houston, he allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings in the Diamondbacks' 4-3 home loss on July 23, 2025.

Right-hander Corbin Burnes appears poised to rejoin the Arizona rotation, perhaps as early as Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals, completing a protracted return from Tommy John surgery. Burnes last started for the Diamondbacks on June 1, 2025, before undergoing surgery.

Burnes could be limited to 60 pitches should he make his debut against the Royals. Given the depth of the Arizona bullpen, such a limitation wouldn't be prohibitive.

"Beyond that, we feel like we have enough pieces in our bullpen," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "We've got 10-11 guys in there right now, and if there's availability in our bullpen with our plus relievers, Corbin gives us four or five innings, we can start to stand on it and win the game with our best pieces."

--Field Level Media