The Opener: Arrighetti, Cavalli, Red Sox

Here are three things we’ll be keeping eye on around the baseball world throughout the day:

1. Arrighetti to return:

The Astros have been without Spencer Arrighetti since April due to a thumb fracture, but the right-hander is finally ready to return to action. He’s listed as the club’s probable starter for today’s game against the Marlins, which will pit him against right-hander Janson Junk (3.86 ERA in 13 appearances). Arrighetti made just two starts before getting shelved earlier this year but posted a 4.53 ERA and 4.18 FIP in 145 innings of work during his rookie campaign last year. The 25-year-old’s return should help offer some certainty to a rotation that has largely lacked it this season outside of Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown. Corresponding moves will be necessary to clear both 40-man and active roster space for Arrighetti.

2. Cavalli returns to the majors:

Former Nationals top prospect Cade Cavalli made his MLB debut back in 2022. He surrendered seven runs on six hits, two walks, and three hit batters over 4 1/3 innings of work while striking out six opponents, and he hasn’t pitched in the majors since. That’s not because of his poor performance in his debut, but because he missed the entire 2023 and ’24 seasons while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Cavalli has now made 15 starts at Triple-A but has struggled badly in his last six starts, leaving him with a 6.01 ERA despite solid peripheral numbers. Despite those recent struggles, he’ll now get the opportunity to pitch in the majors for the first time in three years. He’ll take the mound in front of the home crowd in D.C. opposite Athletics lefty Jeffrey Springs, who has a 4.00 ERA in 23 appearances this year.

3. Red Sox streaking ahead of May’s team debut:

The Red Sox have been surging in recent days, with wins in each of their last seven games. They’ll now look to keep the good times rolling as deadline addition Dustin May makes his Red Sox debut at Fenway Park this evening in a game against the Royals scheduled for 7:10pm local time. May’s 104 innings of work this year for the Dodgers are already a career high, but he’s posted a middling 4.85 ERA with a 4.72 FIP. He’ll look to put up stronger numbers in Boston, starting tonight against Michael Wacha (3.38 ERA in 22 starts). If May can help lead the Red Sox to a win, the club’s eight-game win streak would be their second streak of that length after they won ten straight earlier this year. Only the Brewers have two win streaks of eight games or longer this season.