Astros option Arrighetti, give McCullers fifth rotation spot
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The Astros have optioned right-hander Spencer Arrighetti to Triple-A Sugar Land, the club announced on Monday.
Arrighetti, 26, was limited to seven starts last season due to a fractured right thumb and right elbow inflammation. He posted a 5.35 ERA over 35 1/3 innings for Houston. This spring, he made three relief appearances during Grapefruit League play, giving up six runs over eight innings (6.75 ERA).
With Arrighetti beginning the season in Triple-A, the fifth spot in the Astros’ starting rotation will be filled by fellow right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. With McCullers rounding out the group, Houston’s rotation will consist of Opening Day starter Hunter Brown, Mike Burrows, Cristian Javier, the newly signed Tatsuya Imai and McCullers.
The Astros are planning on moving to a six-man rotation once the season gets underway, which means that Arrighetti, who is apparently not being considered a bullpen candidate at this time, could certainly find himself in the big league rotation soon.
Sending Arrighetti to Triple-A to begin the season there as a starting pitcher would enable Houston to have him stretched out to the point where he could be inserted into the rotation in mid-April -- when the Astros have a stretch of 13 consecutive games -- without a hitch.