Arrighetti gets confidence boost from solid start vs. Braves.
HOUSTON — Not that Spencer Arrighetti is ever one to lack any confidence, but his 87th and final pitch Monday night — a 3-2 cutter that reigning National League Most Valuable Player Ronald Acuña Jr. whiffed on — was a snapshot of the potential bursting from a promising young right arm.
Arrighetti, facing the best offense in baseball, walked off the mound with more confidence than he had walking onto it after holding the Braves to two runs and four hits while striking out five batters in four innings in the Astros’ 6-1 loss at Minute Maid Park.
“[Those are] the results we’re all chasing,” Arrighetti said. “I would say it’s reassuring I could go to that offering and get a swing and miss. I got a good amount of swing and miss tonight. I was pretty happy about it, obviously, but that at-bat, specifically, to end the outing on a really high note meant a lot to me.”
Arrighetti, the Astros’ No. 3-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, was called up to the big leagues after only two Triple-A starts this year to fill a spot in Houston’s injury-filled rotation. He showed glimpses of the kind of stuff and poise that make the Astros believe he can be an impact starter down the road.
That road could include a stop in Triple-A Sugar Land. The Astros may have to option Arrighetti back to the Minors to get another fresh arm to Houston in time for Tuesday’s game, with Justin Verlander coming off the injured list this weekend to fill a spot in the rotation. Arrighetti figures to play a key role at some point this year.
“He’s got that presence about him,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “The stuff is good. The stuff plays. Moving forward, I think he’s going to have some success once he adjusts and gets used to the league and stuff like that, but definitely the stuff is definitely going to play.”
