It is a genuine question about who is the Astros’ second-best starter behind Hunter Brown when he’s healthy. Cristian Javier would’ve fit that description if we were in 2022, but definitely not in 2026. Mike Burrows could possibly get to that point in the future, although it may take some time and a lucky rabbit’s foot. Tatsuya Imai, even amid all of his struggles, still has that potential. But the present matters immensely to this roster, and none of those three pitchers is near that point of reliability.
Spencer Arrighetti just might be the answer, though.
To be fair, Arrighetti has only three starts in 2026. While the results have been positive thus far in his first 18 innings (2.00 ERA, 21 SO, 9 BB), there is plenty of time for things to fall apart. I mean, the Astros are kind of known for something to break down at the most inopportune time in the past couple of years.
But, again, the early results have been positive for Arighetti. His start against the Yankees earlier today was particularly encouraging, striking out eight across seven innings. He only allowed one earned run on three hits and one walk. The first time a Houston starter has pitched at least seven innings since Lance McCullers Jr. on March 30 against the Red Sox. Kind of wild, right?
Christian Walker got the scoring started early, with a two-run home run off of Luis Gil in the first inning. If it wasn’t for the pitching staff breaking down, Walker’s start to 2026 would be mentioned more often (.291/.373/.573, 7 HR, 158 wRC+).
Isaac Paredes would add his own two-run home run in the fourth inning to double Houston’s lead to 4-0. And both Paredes and Walker would strike on back-to-back run-scoring hits to add three more runs to make it a 7-0 lead. Oh, how I missed those kinds of games.
But this pitching staff isn’t past blowing a sizeable lead. We’ve seen that exact script unfold too many times already this season. In any case, Aaron Judge would get the Yankees on the board with a solo home run against Arrighetti in the sixth to make it 7-1.
No big deal, right?
For Arrighetti, it wasn’t. It wasn’t a problem for Bryan King when he isn’t running on fumes, throwing a scoreless eighth. Alas, Enyel De Los Santos gave me a bit of heartburn in the ninth, allowing the Yankees to score three runs in the top of the ninth, all with two outs. Thankfully, the lead was large enough that this implosion couldn’t jeopardize the entire game. But, for a minute, part of me was concerned about that happening. This season has already scarred me.
Feature photo from @astros on X, Source Link
This was one of the best Spaghetti starts I’ve seen. He was working well with Christian Vazquez. Arrighetti was pitching in a quick rhythm. Get the pitch call from Vazquez and immediately throw the pitch, without any second thoughts. His command was very good (HBP notwithstanding), and he seemed to know the pitching plan for each hitter. Arrighetti’s command has varied from time to time in the past, and that is his main shortcoming. But if he keeps this up, he can be a No. 2 starter.
Hate to say it, but our pitcher’s seem to work better with Vasquez behind the plate. I really hope that he’s behind the plate for Lambert’s next start. Theyve seemed to work really well together so far.
I truly don’t know what happened to Yainer but it seems like “something” is off with him in all facets of the game this year. Not that he is a terrible C, and I wouldn’t know about the game calling as it happens- but the results in terms of WHIP, runs allowed, etc speak for themselves in Vazquez starts vs Diaz’s.
Also, Christian Walker’s 158 wRC+ is wildly good. We entered this season hoping that Walker’s second half of 2025 would be his real performance level. But currently he is hitting well above that second half performance rate. A significant part of his improvement is the lowest K rate and highest BB rate of his career. I would also note that he made some excellent defensive plays in today’s game.
I have to wonder if, for all the ways ABS is hurting our core pitching philosophy, it is also helping Walker, not just Altuve. Between better gameplanning from our new hitting coaches, Walker’s mini-transformation in the offseason helping him handle velo, and the more favorable zone for his biggest weakness (high FB), he seems to have run into a perfect storm of conditions that play to his strengths.
I truly hope he keeps it up all season, even if it is a worst case scenario and simply boosting his trade value. 2026 Walker, so far, has been the upside case we paid for when he was first signed.
I loved how it was said that Spencer was using him not tot making opening day as his edge. For God’s sake, I hope Imai finds that fire.
Spencer is the staff ace right now and I couldn’t be happier for the guy. The icing on the cake will be Lambert to give us one more gem like his last start.
By the way, Walker is looking hot with the at again, a worry I had that he taking a little long to start the hot streak. Cam is still in the valley right now.
Glad to here that.
I still don’t understand why they were twiddling their thumbs with Arrighetti when he literally showed you in his rookie season he can handle a workload (and was injured last season).
Arrighetti always struck me as Hunter’s equal in terms of wearing his emotions on his sleeve and having a chip on his shoulder, he’s channeling that energy very well so far.
Like I said before, I think Hunter Brown-Spencer Arrighetti can be our new Roy Oswalt-Wade Miller.
Was at the game today (you’re welcome…😎)
Arrighetti with absolutely dominating stuff. Strike to ball ratio was a little meh, but give me 7 innings, 1 run, 8 Ks, ONE walk….only ONE…..all day every day.
Isaac starting to find his swing a little. I think he’s been seeing the ball well (OBP relative to his batting avg suggests it), just hasn’t been able to find the gaps….found some today (homer hit the foul pole and just avoided another one of his long foul balls). Walker SMOKED both hits off of Gil. Yordan REALLY hates Jazz Chisholm (I mean….who DOESN’T. Lol)….for the third time in the series….he hit an absolute PISS missile to Jazz and almost took his glove hand off. Lol
The relief pitching continues to show low mental fortitude. 2 outs and a grounder to 2nd Base that could’ve been out 3 results in a man on base and De Los Santos fucking crumbles like he’s allergic to success (like Burrows after 4 2/3 perfect innings). Even the final out was a WELL tagged liner from fucking Caballero to Paredes who was overmatched all fucking game. The Yankees scrubs were starting to mount a comeback. Unacceptable.
Fun game all around though, more of that please.
I think Yainer is a very good catcher and all of you are wrong about him. I’d look at Collins (former) and Cossins (current).
“Cossins was brought in to address defensive regressions at the catcher position. In 2025, the Astros ranked near the bottom of the league in pitch framing and “fielding run value”. Houston Chronicle
“Primary Objectives:
Fine-tuning Yainer Diaz: Working closely with the team’s primary catcher on pitch framing, game-calling, and defensive positioning.
Mentorship: Guiding the next generation of Astros catchers, including prospects and depth players like Cesar Salazar.
Staff Integration: Joining new coaching additions such as assistant pitching coach Ethan Katz and hitting coach Victor Rodriguez to modernize the team’s game planning.”
I wouldn’t call Cossins and Katz two great additions to our coaching staff.