Astro prospect Brad Peacock gained attention when he served up only a single run in his first 12 innings of work for the depleted Nationals in 2011, though he's unlikely to look quite that good with a larger sample size.

Peacock shows (or doesn't show) a bit of natural deception in his big-leg, short-arm delivery that makes it difficult for hitters to pick up the ball early, and he's used this to his advantage, as his improved strikeout rate demonstrates. Peacock sets hitters up a straight four-seamer fastball that averages around 94mph, but his pitch for effect is a knuckle-curve that recalls (the good years of) Barry Zito. His third and fourth pitches (an allegedly sinking two-seamer and a straight change) don't look like much, but he hasn't needed much other than that 1-2 combo just yet, either.

He's already tasted MLB ball, as mentioned, and while it's likely the Astros will try to forestall his arbitration clock until June or so, he's already ready to go today.