Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti to start season in Triple A

HOUSTON — Without the need for a sixth starting pitcher until midway through April, the Houston Astros chose to option homegrown right-hander Spencer Arrighetti to Triple-A Sugar Land in lieu of carrying him as a long reliever in the major-league bullpen. Manager Joe Espada informed Arrighetti of the team’s decision before Monday night’s exhibition game at Daikin Park against the same Sugar Land Space Cowboys team Arrighetti will soon join. Arrighetti is scheduled to pitch in Tuesday’s exhibition game in a piggyback role, relieving starter Lance McCullers Jr. McCullers, who is making $18 million in the final season of his five-year, $85 million contract extension, will open the season as Houston’s fifth starter. The team considered deploying a six-man rotation to open the season which, presumably, would’ve included Arrighetti. Instead, Espada has intimated the Astros will expand to a six-man rotation on April 10, when the club begins a stretch of 13 consecutive games. Asked on Monday whether Arrighetti will be a candidate to enter the major-league rotation once that happens, Espada replied: “That’s an easy (answer): Yes.” The Astros could’ve carried Arrighetti as a long man in their Opening Day bullpen, but keeping him built up as a starter took precedence. There is no guarantee Houston could’ve gotten Arrighetti enough innings as a swingman to keep him stretched out. “Long-term, we’re thinking about 162 games (and) keeping him built up,” Espada said. “Also, being smart about how we navigate the first 28 games of the season. Trying to put everyone in a position to succeed and, I think right now, that’s the best way to create our roster.” Arrighetti missed the last five days of spring training in Florida while his fiancé gave birth to twin boys in Houston. Arrighetti maintained his arm care and threw bullpen sessions while away from the team, but had only built up to 57 pitches in Grapefruit League play before his departure. Arrighetti surrendered six earned runs and struck out 12 across the eight Grapefruit League innings he did pitch. In Arrighetti’s absence, the Astros will deploy a rotation of Hunter Brown on Opening Day, trade acquisition Mike Burrows on Friday, Cristian Javier on Saturday, Tatsuya Imai on Sunday and McCullers in Monday’s series opener against the Boston Red Sox. Imai, the team’s marquee offseason acquisition, will make his MLB debut on five days of rest — customary from his time in NPB. By slotting Imai on Sunday, the Astros ensured he will make his next two starts with a team off day built in, allowing him to remain on five days of rest until the team expands to a six-man rotation. McCullers winning the fifth starter job seemed inevitable despite his injury-plagued past. His aforementioned contract and inability to function as a reliever make starting his only avenue to contributing — and McCullers did impress with his velocity and command during three Grapefruit League outings. “He was aggressive in the zone,” Espada said. “He was not holding back. He knew exactly what he needed to do — compete in the (strike zone) to get people out. … He came in with a different demeanor. Mindset was different and he pitched well enough. Really saw a difference in the way he attacked hitters this spring.”