Houston Astros kick off their series against the Tampa Bay Rays tonight, coming off a tough loss against the Minnesota Twins.
Spencer Arrighetti takes the mound tonight against Tampa Bay. He has been one of the best stories in baseball this season, but his last few starts have been uncharacteristically rough.
Arrighetti is in need of a comeback after consecutive rough starts. Arrighetti was on a major hot streak, and it was inevitable that a cold streak would follow. Even the best of the best have a rough start here and there, but the Astros need him at the top of his game, especially after coming off a tough loss.
Arrighetti made his 2026 debut mid-April after starting in Triple-A. He did not allow more than two earned runs in any of his first eight starts. He posted a sub-1.50 ERA through his first several outings. He earned AL Pitcher of the Month honors in May, and was being talked about as a legitimate Cy Young contender. A historic start to his season.
His first rough outing came against the Pirates on June 3, where he gave up four runs on six hits, including a grand slam to Henry Davis. It was officially the first time all season he allowed more than three runs in a start. Even then, his season ERA only ticked up to 1.94.
He gave up three home runs against Cleveland on June 20. Just a few weeks earlier, he hadn't given up a single homer, and now they were starting to add up fast. Season-high eight hits allowed against the Royals on June 14. Another three-homer outing in Detroit on June 26 in the 8-0 shutout loss.
He has allowed three or more runs in four of his last five starts. His June ERA sits at 6.95 across four starts. There is still plenty of optimism for Arrighetti. His ERA sits at 4.00, per MLB.
He has been one of the most important arms in this rotation all season. He came in clutch when the rotation was thinning and unraveling.
Arrighetti faces the Rays with something to prove. Tampa Bay is a tough opponent, but the Astros offense has been clicking. When the pitching is on and the offense is clicking, they can be a dangerous team.
The Astros need him to settle back in as the team heads toward the All-Star break. A few rough starts do not erase what has been a remarkable first half. Tonight is a chance to flip the script and get back to being the pitcher everyone knows he can be. The second half of the Astros season could look very different if Arrighetti finds his footing again.
