The Houston Astros have begun to outline their pitching plans for an upcoming divisional showdown against the Texas Rangers, confirming starters for the first two games of the series while leaving the remainder of the rotation uncertain amid ongoing adjustments and injuries.
Right-hander Tatsuya Imai is scheduled to take the mound for Houston in Monday’s opener at Globe Life Field in Arlington, followed by Spencer Arrighetti, who will start in Thursday’s series finale. The announcement provides some clarity for the early portion of the matchup, though the middle games and long-term rotation structure remain unresolved.
Imai will enter the outing looking to rebound after a mixed performance in his most recent start against the Minnesota Twins, where he allowed three earned runs on five hits over 4.2 innings. Despite issuing no walks and striking out five batters, he was tagged with the loss. Monday’s appearance will mark his third start since returning from the injured list in April, where he had been sidelined with right arm fatigue.
Arrighetti, meanwhile, continues to emerge as one of Houston’s most reliable arms this season. He most recently took the mound against the Chicago Cubs on Friday and is expected to be available on normal rest for the series finale. The right-hander has posted an impressive 6–1 record with a 1.32 ERA, ranking among the best early-season stretches by a pitcher in franchise history.
Beyond those two confirmed starts, Houston’s rotation picture remains fluid, largely due to a combination of scheduling density and ongoing injury concerns. The Astros are in the midst of a demanding stretch without a break until June 1, forcing the team to navigate a 10-games-in-10-days schedule that includes both interleague and divisional matchups.
Complicating matters further, Houston has been dealing with several key pitching absences. Hunter Brown has begun a rehab assignment at Double-A Corpus Christi and is not expected to return until June, while Lance McCullers Jr. recently landed on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, leaving a significant gap in the rotation.
As a result, the Astros have leaned on depth options and flexible scheduling to piece together their pitching plans. Jason Alexander, who recently stepped into McCullers’ rotation spot, is a likely candidate to start Tuesday’s game against Texas after delivering a strong six-inning shutout performance against Minnesota in his last outing. With extra rest, he appears positioned to take on an expanded role.
Wednesday’s starter is projected to be Mike Burrows, who also pitched against Minnesota last week. Although he has struggled recently, dropping his last two starts while allowing four earned runs in his most recent outing, Houston may still rely on him to fill the gap given the compressed schedule.
With rotation uncertainty still looming, the Astros will enter their rivalry series against the Rangers balancing strong individual performances at the top of the rotation with ongoing questions about depth, durability, and how best to manage workload during a demanding stretch of the season.
Leave a Reply