Astros righty Lance McCullers Jr. left his start last night with right elbow discomfort, the team announced. He’ll be looked at more closely today, but that’s certainly not the news the club was hoping for right after the non-waiver trade deadline. Houston had been rumored to be pursuing starters but instead parted with one depth option by trading veteran right-hander Scott Feldman to the Blue Jays. Shoulder problems delayed his start to the year, but McCullers has been quite effective when healthy, working to a 3.22 ERA with 11.8 K/9 and 5.0 BB/9 over 81 frames out of the Houston rotation this year. Rookie right-hander Joe Musgrove finished off the game in dominant fashion, tossing 4 1/3 innings of shutout ball and fanning eight in the process. He could step into McCullers’ rotation spot if a need arises.
Elsewhere in the AL West…
- The Angels announced that Huston Street is headed to the disabled list due to knee inflammation. The 33-year-old has had an awful season this year, pitching to a 6.45 ERA with just 14 strikeouts against 12 walks in 22 1/3 innings at the back of the Halos’ bullpen. Those results aren’t ideal for any pitcher, let alone a closer that is in the first season of a two-year, $18MM contract extension. This is the second DL stint of the year for Street, who also missed time in May with an oblique issue. Righty Cam Bedrosian looks to be next in line, which isn’t much of a surprise considering the second-generation pitcher’s impressive breakout campaign. The 24-year-old has been a bright spot in a disappointing year for the Angels, using a fastball that has averaged 95.3 mph to help him generate 11.5 K/9, 2.5 BB/9 and a 50.5 percent ground-ball rate en route to a pristine 0.90 ERA.
- Rangers general manager Jon Daniels spent weeks speaking to the Rays about their starters, tried to pry Chris Sale or Jose Quintana away from the White Sox and explored rental pitchers on the final day of the deadline, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. However, Daniels found the asking prices in each case to be too prohibitive and ultimately decided he was better off strengthening his lineup and bullpen than overspending on a rotation arm. Daniels, though, tells Rosenthal that he doesn’t blame selling clubs for placing extreme prices on their pitchers. “I don’t think they were being difficult,” said the GM. “I thought they had great pitchers in a market in which no pitching was available. They were understandably asking for a lot, especially for guys with 3, 4, and 5 years of control. They may get as much in a year or two as they would have gotten today.” Daniels admitted that he’s still a bit concerned with his rotation, though the waiver trade market should afford him opportunities to bolster his starting mix if he desires.
TJ for Lance would be a dagger to Houston. Come on, lady luck.
So you’re actually wishing for a person to have TJ surgery? This is why everyone hates anything related to Dallas. Its population and team fans are complete classless a$$clowns.
I read it as he is hoping its not needed maybe I’m just an optimist
I wonder if he’s saying ‘Come on, lady luck.’ in the hopes that McCullers will not have TJ surgery. If he’s saying what you’re implying that’s really low and uncalled for on his part.
maybe hes asking for good luck so he doesnt require TJ
Drank…talk about someone that people hate. Dallas is never talked about in most hated places. Get over yourself.
Dallas used to be called “the city of hate”
And yet STL was stealing from their scouting books.
What does Dallas have to do with HOU and its fans? Why the hate on Dallas other than Jerry Jones?
Slow your roll
No place in this forum for comments like sngeh01……. Disgusting
The ones saying he is ridiculous, you’re ridiculous. He’s hoping he doesn’t have TJ. Learn how to pick up on someone’s comment before you trash them for no reason.
I think he’s hoping for lady luck to come through so they don’t need TJ…
I’m an Astros fan, calm down you guys. I asked for Lady Luck for him to NOT have TJ. Jesus, stop assuming the worst of people.
Also, thanks to Niekro, Nick, and mgrauboo for not assuming the worst.
If it’s a Rangers fan lol. The Astros triple a team or half their bullpen would start over the Rangers 3 through 5 starters.
Is that why they’re 5.5 games back?
Tell that to the standings man.
9-1
Would much rather the game tilt back toward guys throwing 90 and knowing how to pitch than seeing guys on constant inning limits and pitch counts, and still struggling to make 30 starts a year. Star players going out for a year and a half at time is just bad for the game.
@Niekro this is why Julio will have a pretty good career. Won’t have this big time numbers but he’s learned to pitch and not throw. His velocity is purposely down so he can control his pitches better. Can’t say the same for some of these wild arms throwers we have now.
Doesn’t have anything to do with velocity.
Must be the massive workload they are under, the guy has thrown just under 500 innings in over 5 years he might die. /sarcasm off
Losing Lance would be bad. I hope it’s nothing major.
“Daniels admitted that he’s still a bit concerned with his rotation.”
What’s the concern? Texas Rangers have Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels to lead off any playoff series. If the SF Giants can do it off of Madison Bumgarner alone, Rangers can do it with these two aces.
I’m more concerned with the getting bullpen to shut games down the way they are capable of. If they can get that this team will be give people problems in Oct.
Tell that to the 2015. They 2 of the best pitched seasons in MLB history last year and couldn’t get past the first round.
I agree
I wish nothing bad on anyone when it comes to injuries but I do get a laugh out of Astro fans calling Ranger fans classless.
You guys have some good pitching prospects maybe time to see what one of them has.