{"id":121042,"date":"2026-04-30T22:17:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T02:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=121042"},"modified":"2026-04-30T22:17:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T02:17:35","slug":"astros-rotation-surprise-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/04\/30\/astros-rotation-surprise-leader\/","title":{"rendered":"The Astros Rotation Has a Surprise Leader Early in the Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/a>, while the current options available have also struggled.<\/p>\n

The Astros\u2019 starting pitching rotation<\/a> has looked completely different from what was initially anticipated, all due to injuries. That luck still hasn\u2019t gotten on Houston\u2019s side. However, there is one bright spot among the starting rotation that may have been unexpected.<\/p>\n

The Astros\u2019 Rotation Has a Surprise Leader Early in the Season<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s Spencer Arrighetti.<\/a> He\u2019s suddenly emerged as the Astros\u2019 best pitcher and ace at the moment. With Hunter Brown out<\/a> for at least one more month with a Grade 2 shoulder strain, Arrighetti has taken the ace role for himself.<\/p>\n

While it did take a bit longer than expected for Arrighetti to get called up from Triple-A Sugar Land, he\u2019s made every outing of his absolutely count. After the injury to Brown, Cristian Javier, and then Tatsuya Imai<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

Spencer Arrighetti\u2019s Return to the Astros<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Instead, Arrighetti was called up for a much bigger role due to all the starting pitching holes and poor performances. He\u2019s been the one pitcher who has consistently delivered.<\/p>\n

The Numbers Behind Arrighetti\u2019s Start<\/h3>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019s throwing strikes.<\/p>\n

That has been the top issue for the team this season. Arrighetti has a 62 percent strike rate so far (181\/292).<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Waiter: “Be careful, Spaghetti is very hot.” pic.twitter.com\/HJTuH0IJm3<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Houston Astros (@astros) April 26, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n