The Houston Astros kick off their series with the Texas Rangers today at Daikin Park as they continue their homestand.
The Astros are coming off another difficult loss, and at 17-28 they continue to be one of the most struggling teams in the American League. A lengthy injury list and a struggling pitching staff have made it nearly impossible to find any rhythm this season.
Collecting a couple of wins at Daikin Park before they hit the road again could be exactly the spark they need. The Rangers come in at 21-22, so this is far from an unwinnable series, but the Astros have to show up.
They have the talent and have proven that they can collect wins against some of the top teams like the Yankees and the Dodgers. They clearly have the talent, they just don’t seem to have the consistency or the ability to take momentum and turn it into a winning streak.
They need to start stringing wins together before the season gets completely away from them.
They have a few bright spots this season, and despite some of their biggest struggles coming from the mound, one of those bright spots is starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti.
Arrighetti has been consistently dominant on the mound, and despite taking a loss in his last start, it wasn't due to a poor performance on his part; he was lacking support from the rest of the team.
He still maintains a 1.88 ERA and has four wins so far this season. He is one of the few Astros pitchers who gives everyone a chance to breathe when he takes the mound.
Through five starts, Arrighetti has put together one of the more impressive stretches of pitching on the entire Astros staff. His 2026 numbers speak for themselves: 4-1, 1.88 ERA, 28.2 innings pitched, 30 strikeouts, and a 1.33 WHIP, per MLB. For a 26-year-old who started the season in Triple-A, he has proven he belongs in the big leagues.
If Arrighetti can continue to deliver today, he should be the boost the Astros need to start their series with the Rangers on a high note. The Astros have the talent, and they have the pitcher today. Now they just need to put it all together and show up. A series win against Texas won't fix everything, but it would be a step in the right direction for a team that desperately needs one.