Advertisement
The Houston Astros have hit a rough patch. They were just swept in a four-game series by the Oakland Athletics, the last-place team in the AL West. It’s a tough pill to swallow for fans who are used to seeing the Astros dominate.
But before anyone hits the panic button, here’s the silver lining: The Astros are still sitting at the top of their division. They hold a four-game lead over both the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers. So while the recent slump stings, Houston still has breathing room.
The main reason behind this sudden struggle? Injuries, and lots of them.
Several of the team’s key players are currently sidelined. Star shortstop Jeremy Peña, power-hitting outfielder Yordan Alvarez, and top pitchers like Christian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr., and Spencer Arrighetti are all on the injured list. With so many core players missing, it’s no surprise the team has stumbled.
But there’s finally a bit of good news for the Astros’ pitching rotation.
Spencer Arrighetti, a 25-year-old right-hander, is getting closer to returning. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since early April after suffering a fractured thumb from a line drive during practice. It’s been a long road to recovery, but he’s making progress.
Astros general manager Dana Brown shared an update on Sunday, saying Arrighetti is scheduled for one more rehab start. If everything goes smoothly, he could rejoin the team shortly after.
Arrighetti is still learning the ropes in the big leagues; this is only his second season. So far in his career, all with the Astros, he’s made 16 appearances, posting an 8-14 record with a 4.60 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 154.2 innings.
With Arrighetti on the verge of returning and other players expected to heal up in the coming weeks, there’s hope on the horizon. The Astros may be down, but they’re far from out.