SEATTLE -- The Astros rotation, already dealing with a mountain of injuries, added another to the load under freak circumstances Monday at T-Mobile Park.
Right-hander Spencer Arrighetti was hit on his throwing hand by a line drive while playing catch in the outfield during batting practice ahead of the Astros¡¯ series-opener against the Mariners. Arrighetti underwent immediate X-rays at T-Mobile Park, which revealed that the 25-year-old had suffered a broken right thumb.
The Astros have not provided an estimated timeline for his return.
In 9 2/3 innings across two starts this season, Arrighetti has allowed six runs for a 5.59 ERA, with eight strikeouts and five walks. In 2024, he logged a 4.53 ERA in 145 innings, with 171 strikeouts.
The Astros already have four starting pitchers on the injured list. Lance McCullers Jr. is set to make his third rehab appearance this Saturday for Triple-A Sugar Land against Albuquerque and could be nearing a return.
The others, though, won¡¯t be back nearly as soon. J.P. France, who made just five starts in 2024 and underwent surgery to repair a torn right shoulder last July, could come back around the All-Star break at the earliest. The timeline is a little longer for Cristian Javier, who¡¯s coming back from Tommy John surgery. Luis Garcia, who hasn¡¯t pitched since May of ¡®23 after undergoing his own UCL reconstruction, was shut down at the end of Spring Training with elbow inflammation, and Monday was transferred to the 60-day IL.
Now, Arrighetti is set to join their ranks, making it a metric rotation of Astros starters unavailable.
The right-hander was not set to start again until the Astros¡¯ weekend series at home against the Angels, giving the team time to figure out what it wants to do in his place.
But other spots could also cause trouble before they even get back to Houston. Framber Valdez would slot to start Tuesday¡¯s game opposite Luis Castillo, but on Monday, Astros general manager Dana Brown said that Valdez was dealing with a sore throat and fatigue thanks to a bug going around the clubhouse.
Hayden Wesneski started Monday¡¯s series opener, with Hunter Brown slated to pitch the finale Wednesday -- though that could change depending on what happens with Valdez. Ronel Blanco, who started Sunday in Minnesota, is currently the only other healthy starter on the Astros roster.
Of the five Minor League pitchers on Houston¡¯s 40-man roster, Colton Gordon is the only starter; he last pitched Thursday for Triple-A Sugar Land.