Astros GM Dana Brown encouraged by return of trio of starting pitchers

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown is keeping his eye on his pitching staff as the team makes its run to a playoff spot. Cristian Javier and Spencer Arrighetti have caught Brown's eye since returning from the injured list. 

Javier and Arrighetti's returns have brought additional depth to the rotation at a critical time, and Brown is hopeful over what he's seen from their recent work on the mound.

"I feel really good about our starting pitching," Brown said in an interview with MLB.com Astros beat reporter Brian McTaggart. "[Cristian] Javier's last start, he looked like the Javier of old. He was 92 to 95 [mph], the fastball was taking off at the top of the strike zone, breaking ball looking really good. 

"He had the six no-hit innings," Brown said. "[Spencer] Arrighetti’s turning the corner right now. He's still got some walks, but look, he's starting to record those outs and make the pitches when he has to."

In four starts this season, Javier is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 16 innings of work. He's given up six earned runs and nine walks while striking out 16. Javier has a WHIP of 1.125. 

As for Arrighetti, he's 1-5 with a 5.35 ERA and a WHIP of 1.415. In his last start against the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 30, Arrighetti went 6.1 innings while giving up one earned run, walking five and striking out eight.

In Javier's most recent start against the Angels on Aug. 29, he threw six innings of no-hit ball with three walks and six strikeouts.