Not a lot has gone right for the Houston Astros so far this season. There are not many bright spots to look at, especially when it comes to the pitching. That group has once again been devastated by injuries, while the current options available have also struggled.
The Astros’ starting pitching rotation has looked completely different from what was initially anticipated, all due to injuries. That luck still hasn’t gotten on Houston’s side. However, there is one bright spot among the starting rotation that may have been unexpected.
The Astros’ Rotation Has a Surprise Leader Early in the Season
It’s Spencer Arrighetti. He’s suddenly emerged as the Astros’ best pitcher and ace at the moment. With Hunter Brown out for at least one more month with a Grade 2 shoulder strain, Arrighetti has taken the ace role for himself.
While it did take a bit longer than expected for Arrighetti to get called up from Triple-A Sugar Land, he’s made every outing of his absolutely count. After the injury to Brown, Cristian Javier, and then Tatsuya Imai, Arrighetti was still not called up. When Cody Bolton went down as well, the Astros finally made the highly anticipated move and brought him back up to the majors on April 15.
Spencer Arrighetti’s Return to the Astros
In just the two weeks since, Arrighetti has been elite. With all the pitching options during spring training, he never really got a chance to prove himself in the Grapefruit League. Imai, Mike Burrows, and Lance McCullers Jr. all looked strong at the time, and it was Arrighetti who was the odd man left out.
The right-hander suffered multiple injuries last season and hardly pitched in 2025. He missed four months with a fractured right thumb and was shut down for the season with right elbow inflammation when he returned. It was a successful offseason for him, and that was demonstrated at Sugar Land.
Arrighetti made three starts with the Space Cowboys at the start of the year and posted a 1.26 ERA in 14.1 innings pitched. It was thought he would get the chance once Houston went to a six-man rotation.
Instead, Arrighetti was called up for a much bigger role due to all the starting pitching holes and poor performances. He’s been the one pitcher who has consistently delivered.
The Numbers Behind Arrighetti’s Start
Arrighetti currently has a great-looking stat line: a 2.00 ERA and a 3-0 record. The 26-year-old has given the Astros two out of their four quality starts of the season. He’s thrown 18 innings and given up just four earned runs and one homer, along with 21 strikeouts. Arrighetti has allowed a .169 average and 1.11 WHIP. The most important aspect is that he’s throwing strikes.
That has been the top issue for the team this season. Arrighetti has a 62 percent strike rate so far (181/292).
The 6-foot-2, 186-pound pitcher threw the best start of the season for the Astros against the New York Yankees on April 26. Arrighetti went seven innings deep on 96 pitches (64 strikes) and gave up just three hits and one run. He struck out eight and let up just one walk. That was the fourth time in his career that he had gone seven innings.
Waiter: “Be careful, Spaghetti is very hot.” pic.twitter.com/HJTuH0IJm3
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 26, 2026
No. 41’s presence was immediately felt in his first start of the season for the Astros against the Colorado Rockies at home. Arrighetti threw 100 pitches and went six innings of one-run ball, along with 10 strikeouts. That was the most strikeouts in a game for him since June 26, 2024.
“Needed that the most I’ve ever needed it in my career. I was upset when I didn’t make the team out of camp,” Arrighetti said. “I knew there were going to be opportunities for me down the line, and I’m just glad I can make the most of it.”
A big night for Spencer Arrighetti as he shines in his first start of the season and the @astros get the win over the @Rockies 3-1 pic.twitter.com/g09qQLgCny
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) April 16, 2026
Pitch Breakdown
He’s been the only pitcher to go deep consistently, and that’s why the Astros win when he pitches. This is the best start of Arrighetti’s career, and he’s likely to play a big role this season. Arrighetti has a 31.1 percent whiff rate, which is considered great according to Baseball Savant.
The Cinco Ranch High School product has increased his curveball usage to 30 percent so far. Arrighetti primarily uses three pitches in his arsenal. The 4-seam fastball is second at 24 percent, followed by the sweeper at 17 percent. He also uses the cutter at 12 percent.
The curveball has been special. While it generates an incredible amount of movement, he gets a 56.8 percent whiff rate and 51.7 percent put-away rate. Arrighetti has thrown 15 strikeouts and has just a .120 AVG allowed. He’s allowed just three hits in 87 curveballs. That pitch has gotten significantly better from last season.
Spencer Arrighetti’s Growth for Astros
The four-seamer used to be his top pitch last year, but that has flipped to the curve. Astros manager Joe Espada explained why Arrighetti was sent down at the start of the year.
“There was a purpose behind why we did it. We really wanted him to go down there and work on a few things, and he did,” Espada said. “He knew that at some point he was going to come back up, and he’s back up at the right time. There was a goal about going down there, pounding the zone, and quality pitches from the very beginning.”
The former Astros’ sixth-round pick out of Louisiana had a solid rookie season that showed promise and is now one of the most important pitchers on the team.
Main Photo Credits: Troy Taormina-Imagn Image
