Spencer Arrighetti exits rehab start with injury

The Blue Jays are hopeful that it’s just a minor setback and that he’ll be able to return to the mound soon, but they want to have the imaging done to be on the safe side. Expect the club to provide another update on his status once that exam is done.

Arrighetti, who threw a bullpen session on Tuesday at Daikin Park, told the Blue Jays that he’s ready to take the ball against his former team right now, but that’s not going to happen. The 26-year-old is working his way through a nerve issue in his foot and should be ready to make his Toronto debut sometime around mid-August. He was shipped north of the border in the Daulton Varsho deal at the trade deadline.

Arrighetti is more of a long-term addition for the Blue Jays as they pivot away from contending in the current year without embarking on a full-scale teardown. The 26-year-old righty is on the shelf with right foot nerve irritation.

Varsho will switch clubhouses prior to Monday’s series opener at Daikin Park in Houston. The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon reports the Blue Jays are getting starter Spencer Arrighetti, who is currently on the injured list with right foot nerve irritation, back in the deal. Varsho shores up Houston’s significant need for a center fielder after Jake Meyers struggled to the point that he was demoted last month. The 30-year-old played a key role in Toronto’s run to the World Series last year. He’s supplied seven homers and nine steals in 365 plate appearances across 99 games this season.

Arrighetti lands on the injured list after departing Friday’s start against the White Sox following just 33 pitches over one inning with nerve irritation in his foot. The 26-year-old looked like a fixture in fantasy rotations for several weeks after returning from the injured list in mid-April, but his performance unraveled as the first half wore on. He surrendered six earned runs or more in three of his final four starts before the All-Star break, and now heads back to the shelf after another abbreviated outing. It’s unclear how much time he’s going to miss, but fantasy managers should brace for the possibility of an extended absence.

Maybe this will prove troublesome going forward, but it still sounds better than most of the alternatives. Arrighetti exited tonight while warming up for the second inning after a rough first that saw him give up three runs. Cristian Javier could step into the rotation if Arrighetti lands on the IL. The rehabbing Hayden Wesneski would also be an option.

Arrighetti shut it down after a couple of throws from the mound while warming up for the second. He had a rough start to this game. Two walks and a single by the first three batters he faced brought home one run, a sacrifice fly a second and then consecutive hit batsmen with two outs a third. It took 33 pitches in all.

Arrighetti gave up one hit, walked four and struck out six. His only run allowed came in the fourth inning when he allowed an RBI single to Dylan Beavers. Arrighetti has 87 strikeouts in 87 innings this year. His ERA is 4.34, though his xFIP is 4.84. Arrighetti’s problem continues to be that he walks too many batters. He’s lined up to face the White Sox on the road next weekend.

The 29-year-old right-hander had a terrific first half for the Astros, compiling a 3.14 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and an 81/33 K/BB ratio across 86 innings through his first 15 starts. At this stage, he should be considered a viable weekly option in all mixed leagues. Spencer Arrighetti will follow him on Saturday with Hunter Brown getting the ball in Sunday’s series finale in Houston.

Arrighetti walked six, struck out two, and allowed two homers in the ugly performance. It isn’t a surprise given it came on the road against one of the highest-scoring lineups in MLB, but he has scuffled badly lately. He now has an 8.74 ERA over his past seven starts. This was his final outing of the first half. The Astros host the Orioles coming out of the All-Star break.