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.
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.
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: 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: 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.
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.
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.
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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