Spencer Arrighetti burst onto the scene with the Houston Astros in 2024, with his strong pitching down the stretch (six earned runs over his final four outings) helping the Astros earn a playoff spot.
The 26-year-old was scheduled to start for Houston in Game 3 of the wild-card round against the Detroit Tigers that year, but that opportunity never came with Detroit sweeping the series.
He’s turning that missed opportunity into motivation to help the Blue Jays rally into a wild-card spot down the stretch this year.
“Having been there once, it makes me more excited, more hungry to get back there,” Arrighetti told The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon on Saturday. “And, really, everything I’m doing right now is trying to help this team be in that same spot.”
After being acquired for outfielder Daulton Varsho at this year’s trade deadline, Arrighetti has filled in wherever Toronto has needed him and is coming off his best performance in a Blue Jays jersey.
The righty went 2 and 2/3 innings with one unearned run allowed in Toronto’s 7-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday. That victory kept the Blue Jays right behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final American League wild card spot.
With starters Trey Yesavage (knee), Shane Bieber (shoulder), and Jameson Taillon (elbow) currently on the injured list, more solid bulk relief performances from the Albuquerque, New Mexico native would go a long way in the push for the playoffs.
“I’m whatever they want me to be,” Arrighetti said. “All that matters right now is winning, especially with where we’re at in the standings. I have absolutely no ego about this.”
Toronto sits one game back of the final wild card spot with 13 games remaining and crucial series against the Orioles and Texas Rangers upcoming.
With the current injury questions in the Jays’ rotation, Arrighetti will be leaned on to help Canada’s only Major League team reach the postseason once again.
“Being involved in winning is way cooler than being involved in losing,” Arrighetti said.
