(Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

While right-hander Spencer Arrighetti capped a strong opening weekend for the Houston rotation on Saturday, it was the performance of the Astros' bullpen that raised eyebrows.

The Houston bullpen surrendered one run over eight innings against the New York Mets in the first of consecutive interleague home series for the Astros to open the schedule. Houston will host the San Francisco Giants for a three-game set starting Monday, with the pitching staff having given up just five runs to the Mets in three games.

Bryan King, Luis Contreras, Steven Okert and Tayler Scott have combined to allow one hit over four scoreless innings so far. Scott was the only member of that quartet to work high-leverage innings last season.

'A lot of those guys don't have a ton of experience,' Astros manager Joe Espada said. 'We're going to need that. I'm going to be giving those guys opportunities like that to see who can step up and pitch those big innings for us in the middle (of the game).'

Right-hander Ronel Blanco (13-6, 2.80 ERA in 2024) is the scheduled starter for the Astros on Monday.

Blanco tossed a no-hitter in his season debut last year, issuing two walks while recording seven strikeouts in a 10-0 home win over the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1. Blanco went 4-0 with a 0.75 ERA and 25 strikeouts over 24 innings in September. The Astros won all five of his starts.

Blanco is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA over two career appearances (one start) against the Giants. He earned a 3-1 road victory on June 11, 2024, after allowing one run on three hits and one walk with eight strikeouts over six innings.

Right-hander Jordan Hicks (4-7, 4.10 ERA in 2024) has the starting assignment for the Giants.

Hicks, a Houston native, logged a career-high 109 2/3 innings while starting 20 of his 29 appearances during his first season in San Francisco. He worked out of the bullpen in each of his final nine appearances in 2024, recording a save while producing a 4.91 ERA. Hicks posted a 4.01 ERA with 90 strikeouts across 98 2/3 innings as a starter last season.

Hicks is 0-1 with a 4.76 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Astros. He was the pitcher of record opposite Blanco last June 11 after allowing three runs on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.

The Giants claimed the rubber match of their three-game road series with the Cincinnati Reds with a 6-3 victory on Sunday.

Left-hander Robbie Ray carried a perfect game into the sixth inning, while Jung Hoo Lee and Matt Chapman recorded multi-hit games in the win. Heliot Ramos and Chapman posted multi-RBI games for the Giants.

It marked a positive start for the Giants, who reshaped their roster in the offseason with the addition of infielder Willy Adames and right-hander Justin Verlander.

Adames signed the largest contract in franchise history -- seven years and $182 million -- while Verlander inked a one-year, $15 million deal and is the oldest active pitcher in the majors. Verlander did not factor into the decision of a 3-2 loss on Saturday after allowing two runs on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts over five innings.

'The vibes are high,' Chapman said. 'Willy and J.V. and the guys that we brought in, it's like they've been here for years. And then having Bo Mel (Giants manager Bob Melvin) and all the coaches returning again, we've got a lot of similar people, and we're all on the same page. We're just having fun and expect to win every day.'

--Field Level Media