Astros Suffer Major Injury Blow After Fluke Accident

Arrighetti was hit by a line drive playing catch in left field at T-Mobile Park prior to the Astros' Monday night game against the Mariners. An immediate X-ray showed that the second-year pitcher suffered a broken thumb.

The Astros have not yet provided a timeline for his return, but Arrighetti seems destined to miss at least a few weeks given that the broken thumb is on his throwing hand.

It's a big blow for a pitching staff already without Luis Garcia (right elbow soreness), McCullers (still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery), JP France (recovery from shoulder surgery) and Cristian Javier, who will miss all of 2025.

McCullers is set to make his third rehab appearance for Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday and could be near a return. 

Arrighetti pitched to a 4.53 ERA in 29 games in 2024 and so far has pitched to a 5.59 ERA in two starts in 2025.

The news is especially shattering for Astros fans in the wake of the news that Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker took home American League and National League Player of the Week honors for the Red Sox and Cubs respectively.

Pitcher Hayden Wesneski, part of the Astros' return for Tucker, matched a career-high with seven innings pitched in Monday's loss, and figures to shoulder some of the burden of Arrighetti's loss.