With the Astros' pitching staff continually thinning throughout 2026, Spencer Arrighetti has been their most reliable pitcher, sitting at 5-1. For a pitcher who started the season in Triple-A, the Astros have Arrighetti to thank for five of their 21 wins. He has been the most pleasant surprise for Houston while they have been navigating a challenging season.
The Astros are kicking off their series against the Chicago Cubs today at Wrigley Field, one of baseball's most iconic stadiums, where they have not won since June 22, 2013. They are long overdue and putting Arrighetti on the mound is the smartest move they could make to give them a chance to finally break that streak.
Arrighetti's stats speak for themselves. Here is what Chicago is up against today:
2026 stats: 5-1, 1.50 ERA, 35 SO, 1.19 WHIP
He has one of the best ERAs in the AL, and has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his six starts. Again, they started this guy in Triple-A this season.
He is going up against Jameson Taillon, who is 2-3 with a 4.97 ERA. Taillon pitches well at Wrigley but has struggled overall this season.
If the pitching is solid, the team is usually solid. If Arrighetti continues to perform like he has all season, and the rest of the team does their part, they have a real shot at starting this series with a win. When Arrighetti takes the mound the Astros always have a chance. Today is no different.
