Astros' Lance McCullers: Lasts just three innings in defeat
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McCullers (2-4) took the loss after throwing three innings, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five, during Friday's 7-3 loss to the Rangers.
McCullers' struggles on the season continued as he failed to make it through five innings for the sixth time in 10 starts. He needed 83 pitches to get through three innings, an alarming level of inefficiency, The 31-year-old has a 6.48 ERA on the season, well off the eighth-year pro's career 3.60 ERA. With 49 strikeouts in 41.2 innings this year, he's still striking out batters at a decent rate, but he must bring down his allowed walks (26) and home runs (nine) if he's to find his form again after the All-Star break.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Rebounds in blowout win
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McCullers (2-3) allowed one run on four hits and four walks while striking out four over six innings to earn the win over the Dodgers on Friday.
McCullers rebounded from giving up eight runs to the Cubs in his previous start after returning from a toe injury. While he earned a quality start Friday, he walked four batters for the third start in a row as control continues to be an issue for the right-hander. He's also had to deal with diminished velocity in his first major-league season since 2022. McCullers is at a 5.82 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 44:24 K:BB through 38.2 innings over nine starts this year. His next start is projected to be at home versus the Guardians.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Roughed up in return
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McCullers (1-3) took the loss against the Cubs on Saturday, allowing eight runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out one batter over 3.1 innings.
McCullers came off the 15-day IL on Saturday after recovering from a right foot sprain, but he didn't pitch well against a tough Chicago offense. The right-hander walked in a run in the first inning, and after tossing perfect second and third frames, things really fell apart for him in the fourth. The Cubs put seven straight runners on base against McCullers in that inning, and their six hits included three homers and a triple. It was the first time this season that the veteran hurler has given up more than one home run in an outing, and Saturday's start was also his second shortest of the campaign. Discarding two bad blow-ups this season, McCullers has a 2.79 ERA over six starts spanning 29 frames. However, those meltdowns have been really bad -- combined, he's allowed 15 runs across 3.2 innings in that pair of starts. As a result, his season ERA stands at an ugly 6.61.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Officially reinstated from IL
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The Astros reinstated McCullers (foot) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start against the Cubs on Saturday.
McCullers was been out of action since mid-June due to a right foot sprain, but he showed enough progress during his bullpen sessions to skip a rehab assignment and will rejoin the Astros' rotation Saturday. Nick Hernandez was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land following Friday's game to make room on the 26-man roster for McCullers.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Will start Saturday
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McCullers (foot) will come off the 15-day injured list Saturday and start against the Cubs, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
McCullers landed on the 15-day injured list in mid-June due to a right foot sprain. He resumed throwing shortly after his move to the IL and showed enough progress during his bullpen sessions to forgo a rehab assignment. McCullers has posted a 3.20 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 35:10 K:BB in 25.1 innings across five starts this season.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Could return to start Saturday
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Astros manager Joe Espada said Thursday that McCullers (foot) is an "option" to start Saturday versus the Cubs, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
McCullers did some pitchers' fielding practice Thursday as he returns from a right foot sprain and it "went well," per Espada. As long as the pitcher bounces back well Friday, it sounds like he'll skip a rehab assignment and rejoin the rotation Saturday, which is the first day he's eligible.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Returns to mound work
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McCullers (foot) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander landed on the shelf June 16 due to a right foot sprain, and he was kept off the mound for only about a week. Assuming McCullers can continue ramping up his throwing program back up with no issues, he may not be looking at an extended absence.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Resumes throwing
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McCullers (foot) played catch Saturday and is scheduled to do so again Sunday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Manager Joe Espada relayed that McCullers could start throwing off a mound Monday as long as he doesn't suffer any setbacks. McCullers landed on the 15-day injured list this past Monday due to a right foot sprain. How his foot reacts to increased work will give the Astros a better sense of when McCullers can embark on a rehab assignment, if one is needed.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Hits IL with foot sprain
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The Astros placed McCullers on the 15-day injured list Monday due to a right foot sprain, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
McCullers' move to the IL was unexpected, as the Astros had listed the right-hander as their starter for Monday's series opener in Sacramento before he presumably sustained the injury at some point during or shortly after his most recent outing last Tuesday versus the White Sox. Astros manager Joe Espada will likely provide more details on the severity of McCullers' injury later Monday. Ryan Gusto will be moved up a day in the pitching schedule to take the hill for the series opener against the Athletics in place of McCullers, while Jason Alexander was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land and could be needed to make a spot start Tuesday.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Takes second loss
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McCullers (1-2) took the loss Tuesday, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks over five innings in a 4-2 loss against the White Sox. He struck out six.
The right-hander struggled to find a rhythm Tuesday, with Luis Robert giving him particular trouble via an RBI double in the second inning and a solo homer in the fourth inning. McCullers has had an inconsistent season, recording scoreless outings in three of his seven starts but allowing multiple runs in the other four -- including a rough appearance against the Reds in which he surrendered seven runs in just one-third of an inning. Statistically, the 31-year-old owns a 4.44 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across 24.1 innings.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Start officially delayed
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Manager Joe Espada said Friday that the Astros are giving McCullers additional rest, and he won't make his usual turn through the rotation, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
McCullers' typical turn in the rotation would come Sunday against Cleveland but the start is now pushed back and expected to occur Tuesday against the White Sox. Espada did not name a starter for Sunday's contest.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Likely pushed back to next week
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McCullers is not listed among the Astros' probable pitchers for this weekend's series in Cleveland, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
McCullers' next turn comes up Sunday, but the team is listing TBA in that slot for now. Manager Joe Espada did not rule out McCullers ultimately taking the ball that day, but it appears Tuesday versus the White Sox is likelier for the righty after McCullers went six innings in each of his last two outings. McCullers hadn't pitched in the majors since 2022 due to various injuries before rejoining Houston's rotation in early May.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Fans seven in win
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McCullers (1-1) allowed two hits and a walk over six shutout frames Tuesday, striking out seven and earning a win over Pittsburgh.
McCullers didn't face much of a threat as he cruised through six scoreless innings Tuesday. He threw 61 of 96 pitches for strikes and earned his first MLB win since September of 2022. Since coughing up seven runs while recording just one out against the Reds on May 10, McCullers has posted an impressive 2.21 ERA with a 29:6 K:BB across 20.1 frames. He dropped his season ERA to 4.44 across 24.1 innings. McCullers' next start is projected to be in Cleveland.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Strikes out 12 in quality start
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McCullers allowed three runs on five hits and a walk over six innings in a no-decision Wednesday against the A's. He struck out 12.
McCullers delivered a season-high six innings Wednesday, throwing 102 pitches, as he continues to round into form following a two-year absence. The 31-year-old right-hander has certainly found his swing-and-miss stuff -- he's recorded 20 punchouts across 10.1 innings in his last two starts. Overall, McCullers is 0-1 with a 5.89 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 26:11 K:BB through his first five outings (18.1 innings). McCullers is currently lined up for an enticing road matchup with the Pirates in his next start.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Strikes out eight in no-decision
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McCullers allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out eight over 4.1 innings in a no-decision Thursday versus the Mariners.
McCullers pitched into the fifth inning for the third time in four starts, but he once again had trouble with traffic on the basepaths. He's walked three batters in three of his starts, though the eight strikeouts more than doubled his season total. Still, he landed just 52 of 91 pitches for strikes in this outing. McCullers is at a 6.57 ERA, 2.03 WHIP and 14:10 K:BB across 12.1 innings so far in his first major-league action since 2022. Walks were an issue for him in 2021 and 2022 as well, but not to this extent, and he'll be tough to trust in fantasy until he can cut down on the free passes. His next start is tentatively projected to be at home versus the Athletics.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Inefficient in no-decision
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McCullers came away with a no-decision in Friday's 6-3 win over the Rangers, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out two.
The right-hander also plunked Marcus Semien and uncorked a wild pitch, and McCullers left the mound in the line for the loss after 83 pitches (53 strikes). A six-run rally in the seventh by the Astros got him off the hook, however. The four frames still represented McCullers' longest outing since coming off the IL at the beginning of May, and his inability to go deep into games yet is understandable considering his two-year layoff due to injuries. He'll try to improve his efficiency in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Mariners.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Can't escape first inning
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McCullers (0-1) took the loss against the Reds on Saturday, allowing seven runs on three hits and three walks while recording just one out in the first inning. He did not record a strikeout.
It was a brutal outing for McCullers in just his second start since being activated from the 15-day injured list May 4. He gave up a three-run home run to Elly De La Cruz, and after recording a groundout, McCullers proceeded to put the next four batters he faced on base before being mercifully lifted for Logan VanWey. McCullers will look to put Saturday's outing behind him and hit the reset button ahead of his next start, tentatively slated for next week on the road against the Rangers.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Lasts 3.2 frames in return
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McCullers did not factor into the decision in Sunday's rain-shortened loss to the White Sox, allowing three hits and walks apiece over 3.2 scoreless innings. He struck out four.
In his first outing back from 2023 flexor tendon surgery, McCullers was inefficient against a lowly Chicago lineup, requiring 87 pitches to get 11 outs. Despite not allowing a run, the Houston right-hander generated just six whiffs as his sinker averaged 91.8 mph, down from his 2022 average of 93.1 mph. Given his extended absence, it's not surprising that McCullers might require a few outings to shake off the rust. He currently lines up to make his next start against Cincinnati at home next weekend.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Activated for season debut
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The Astros reinstated McCullers (forearm) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Sunday against the White Sox in Chicago.
McCullers will be making his first appearance for Houston since the 2022 World Series, as he missed the past two seasons while recovering from June 2023 flexor tendon surgery. He's enjoyed a clean bill of health since the start of spring training and wrapped up his rehab assignment on a high note April 26, striking out seven over five scoreless innings and 71 pitches for Double-A Corpus Christi. As a result, he could be capped at 80-90 pitches in his season debut. McCullers is likely to be kept on a five-day rest schedule between starts initially, and the Astros are expected to transition into a six-man rotation during busier portions of their schedule to accommodate him.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Making season debut Sunday
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McCullers (forearm) will return from the 15-day injured list Sunday and will start in the Astros' series finale against the White Sox in Chicago, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
McCullers will be taking the hill for the Astros for the first time since the 2022 World Series, after a prolonged recovery from June 2023 flexor tendon surgery kept him out of action for the entirety of the past two seasons. The right-hander was cleared to resume facing hitters in late February and steadily ramped up to close out spring training before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment March 30. Across four starts between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land, McCullers logged a 2.84 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB in 12.2 frames, including a five-inning scoreless appearance in his final outing Saturday. He built up to 71 pitches in that start, so McCullers could be operating with a slight workload restriction in his 2025 Astros debut. Houston may also be keen on building extra rest for McCullers between starts, so it wouldn't be surprising if the team expanded its rotation to six men for the next few weeks.
