CLEVELAND -- David Paulino, a 6-foot-7 right-handed pitcher who went a combined 5-4 with a 2.00 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 90 innings this year at the Rookie, Double-A and Triple-A levels, was called up by the Astros on Tuesday and will start Thursday's series finale against the Indians.
Paulino, who was the player to be named in the 2013 trade in which the Astros sent Jose Veras to the Tigers in exchange for outfielder Danry Vasquez, is ranked as the Astros' No. 4 prospect by MLBPipeline.com. He'll join Joe Musgrove as rookies in the Astros' starting rotation, which is without Lance McCullers (elbow) and Dallas Keuchel (shoulder inflammation).