The Houston Astros have optioned right-hander Spencer Arrighetti to their Triple-A affiliate in Sugar Land, the club announced on Monday. This move means Arrighetti will not be part of the Opening Day roster. The team plans to use Lance McCullers Jr. in the fifth rotation spot to start the season.
Spencer Arrighetti, 26, appeared in seven starts for the Astros last season but was sidelined by a fractured right thumb and right elbow inflammation. He recorded a 5.35 ERA across 35 1/3 innings pitched. During this year's Grapefruit League spring training, Arrighetti made three relief outings, allowing six runs in eight innings for a 6.75 ERA. The Astros' Opening Day starting rotation features Hunter Brown as the first starter, followed by Mike Burrows, Cristian Javier, the recently signed Tatsuya Imai, and Lance McCullers Jr. filling the fifth position. Houston intends to shift to a six-man rotation once the regular season begins. By sending Arrighetti to Triple-A Sugar Land as a starter, the team aims to keep him stretched out. This positioning could allow for his insertion into the major league rotation around mid-April, coinciding with a demanding stretch of 13 straight games.
