SP Arrighetti Breaks Thumb Playing Catch, Astros Reeling

The Houston Astros’ rocky start to the season just got a little worse.

Starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti was placed on the IL after suffering a broken right thumb. The right-handed pitcher reportedly sustained the injury after being hit by a line drive while playing catch. His next start was set for Friday versus the Los Angeles Angels. The team is reporting him as out indefinitely.

Arrighetti, 25, was expected to be a big piece of Houston’s rotation. A sixth-round pick in 2021, Arrighetti made his MLB debut last season. He started 28 games and posted a 4.53 ERA and 1.407 WHIP. The young hurler improved as the season wore on. Over the last two months of 2024, Arrighetti posted a 2.72 ERA and flashed impressive strikeout rates (10.4 K/9).

In his first start this season, Arrighetti shut down a stacked Mets lineup — 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 K. However, the Twins got the better of him his last time out — 3.2 IP, 5 ER. Now, the Astros will have to shuffle the rotation with their No. 3 starter down for several weeks.

The most likely replacement for Arrighetti is long-reliever Ryan Gusto. Gusto has pitched seven innings out of the bullpen this year but was a starter for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston’s AAA affiliate) in 2024.

Lance McCullers Jr. is working to make his long-awaited return. The two-time World Series winner and former All-Star hasn’t pitched since 2022. He’s made two rehab starts this year, but will reportedly need more time before being called up.

Arrighetti’s untimely injury adds to the Astros’ early woes. Houston (4-6) had to watch two former Astros — Chicago’s Kyle Tucker and Boston’s Alex Bregman — be named NL and AL Players of the Week on Monday. Tucker — who was traded to the Cubs in the offseason — and Bregman — who left for the Red Sox in free agency — rank 1st and 2nd in hits in MLB. Also, the pair have combined for more extra-base hits (17) than the 2025 Astros have as a team (16).

Another former Astros who has hit the ground running is breakout Boston star, Wilyer Abreu. Abreu was traded in 2022 to the Red Sox in the deal that netted Houston catcher Christian Vazquez. Abreu was with the Astros organization since 2017. He was awarded a Gold Glove last year but has shined at the plate this season. Abreu has a .424 AVG and currently leads the league in OBP (.537) and OPS (1.324).