Spencer Arrighetti bombed for eight runs in loss

This was the fourth time in Arrighetti’s last five starts where he wasn’t super curveball dependent. It was also just the fifth time in 14 starts this season where he threw more fastballs than curves. That usage pattern wasn’t consistent here though. After throwing it sparingly the first time around the order – and almost exclusively trying to land it in the zone early for strikes – he went to it more heavily the second time around and was more hunting for whiffs. It helped him be more efficient, but he missed fewer bats and was pulled after just 73 pitches before he had to see Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda for a third time. Funny enough, Caminero homered in the seventh off a reliever. Still, Arrighetti pitched well and left this outing with a 3.81 ERA, 79 strikeouts, and 38 walks through 78 innings this season. He’ll close out his first half with a start against the Nationals next week.

Arrighetti gave up six hits, walked none and struck out eight. He fell to 7-3 with the loss. Arrighetti was done in by the long ball as all six of the runs he allowed scored on the three home runs he allowed. The 26-year-old right-hander allowed a three-run home run to Travis Bazzana in the fifth inning, giving the Astros a 6-1 lead. Arrighetti’s ERA is now 3.13. He’s lined up to face the Tigers on the road next weekend.

Arrighetti managed to strike out seven in the defeat, and he’s now been tagged for 11 runs over his past three starts. He had begun this season by allowing two earned runs or fewer in each of his first eight outings, so much of this is natural regression. He’ll carry a 2.57 ERA into a home start versus the Guardians next time out.

The runs all came in the second inning, when Arrighetti hit a batter and issued two of his four walks. It’s the sixth time in 10 starts this season that he’s walked four batters. He’s an incredible 7-1 with a 2.21 ERA anyway, but there isn’t much reason to think he’ll be a top starter going forward, given that he’s always been wild and that he’s just average in terms or recording strikeouts. He’ll face the Royals next.

Arrighetti got through 3 2/3 scoreless, but then with one more out to go in the fourth, he gave up a single, hit a batter, walked another and gave up a grand slam to Henry Davis. It proved to be a 33-pitch inning, so he didn’t come back out for the fifth afterwards. Arrighetti was named AL Pitcher of the Month for May earlier in the day, but there’s never been much in his underlying numbers to suggest he’s going to keep it up. The 1.94 ERA he’ll take into his next start against the Angels is two-to-three runs lower than his xERA, SIERA and FIP.

Arrighetti walked one and struck out three in the ballgame. The only blemish on his night came on a solo shot off the bat of Josh Jung in the second inning. Aside from that, he was in complete command throughout the night. The 26-year-old righty got just three whiffs on 94 pitches on the night — all of them on his curveball — while posting a minuscule CSW of 20 percent. Now 7-1 on the season, he’ll bring a sparkling 1.34 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 43/26 K/BB ratio (47 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Pirates.

Arrighetti walked four and hit two batters, but that only shortened his day. He struck out five and allowed just two hits. Technically, he allowed two hard-hit balls, but they were 95.7 and 95.3 mph. None of the other 10 balls in play checked in at over 89 mph. Arrighetti’s ERA is down to 1.32, even though he has a 40/25 K/BB in 41 innings. He’s allowed only one homer, even though he’s sporting a 35 percent groundball rate. This run of great luck should come to an end at some point, but it probably won’t be next week in a very favorable road matchup against the Rangers.

Arrighetti took a no-hitter into the eighth inning but had it broken up by Justin Foscue with one out. Despite walking four batters, Arrighetti never walked more than one batter in any inning and successfully pitched his way out of danger while firing five strikeouts. With this latest outing, Arrighetti has now lowered his ERA to 1.50 on the season while picking up his fifth win. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday on the road against the Twins.

Arrighetti had tossed four scoreless innings, stranding two base runners, until running into trouble in the fifth. The Reds got to him for three runs, one earned, on three hits, two walks, and an error. He returned for the sixth and recorded two outs before his day was done at 93 pitches. He struck out five. The 26-year-old right-hander will take a 1.88 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a 30/17 K/BB ratio across 28 2/3 innings into a start against the Mariners in Houston on Thursday.

The Red Sox left eight men on base in Arrighetti’s final three innings of work, with Arrighetti getting a big assist from Brice Matthews on a jumping catch at the wall in center. Arrighetti, who has won all four of his starts, lowered his ERA to 1.96 today, even as his WHIP jumped to 1.30. He’s a big flyball pitcher who still walks a few too many, so mixed-league fantasy value might not last. He’s slated to face the Reds next weekend.