Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Friday, reports Mark Berman of Fox 26 (Twitter link). He’s scheduled to throw two innings for Double-A Corpus Christi.
Pitchers can spend up to 30 days on rehab assignments, so the start of his work suggests an early-mid August timetable for his return to the big leagues if all goes as expected. McCullers has yet to pitch this year as he’s rehabbed from the flexor tendon forearm strain that cut short his 2021 postseason. While the club initially expressed hope he’d be ready for Opening Day, McCullers’ offseason rehab didn’t progress as quickly as expected. He returned to mound work by late May and has spent the past six weeks gradually building back towards game readiness.
Getting McCullers back in mid-August should afford him time to round into shape for the postseason. The Astros lead the Mariners by nine games in the AL West, and they’re even further clear of the Twins for the league’s #2 seed (and associated first-round bye). They’re a virtual playoff lock, and a healthy McCullers will only add to the team’s embarrassment of riches on the mound. The right-hander was arguably the team’s best pitcher last year, tossing 162 1/3 innings of 3.16 ERA ball while punching out 27% of opponents.
Most teams would struggle to overcome the loss of an arm of that caliber, but the Astros have sported one of baseball’s top rotations. Houston’s starting staff trails only the Yankees in ERA (3.15) and the Padres in innings pitched (522 2/3). They’re seventh in strikeout rate (23.9%) and 11th in walk percentage (7%). Aside from McCullers, Houston’s rotation has stayed mostly healthy. Jake Odorizzi missed around six weeks with a heel injury, but each of Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia and José Urquidy has avoided the injured list. That sextet has combined to make all of the team’s starts, and Urquidy is the only member of the group with an ERA north of 3.76.
If everyone remains healthy, the Astros could consider kicking any of Odorizzi, Javier or Urquidy into relief. Houston’s bullpen has been similarly excellent, leading baseball with a 2.66 ERA. Their strong division lead should allow manager Dusty Baker to keep an eye on the innings totals for McCullers and Verlander (who missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery) to ensure they hit the postseason at peak form.
They are so well run. They might lose JV after this year and it really doesn’t matter. And Hunter Brown is just sitting in AAA.
Can I admit I totally forgot about this guy? Astros are stacked.
I’d put McCullers in the bullpen for this year. Unless the Astros are planning to flip a starter for a longterm catcher or first baseman, SP isn’t a need.
I agree. It doesn’t seem like there would be time to build him up as a starter.
He just threw 40ish pitches in a simulated game. He won’t have a problem getting built up in 30 days.
Yeah, but how many 6 inning starts will he have going into October? Seems like he might not be ready.
Agreed.
Being in the bullpen has its own challenges.
He would be a liability if he can’t pitch consecutive days, or at least on 1 day rest.
Rules limit his rehab to 30 days.
That means the Astros must activate him and put him on the 26 man roster no later than Sunday 8/21 ( they are in Atlanta)
Let’s say he pitched the day before on the 20th and they decide to give him 5 days of rest instead of typical 4 between each start.
He is able to make 7 starts before the end of the season. Not to mention 5 rehab starts that will also be buildup.
Plenty to build up and get ready for the playoffs.
McCullers will be back in the starting rotation, but likely they will limit his pitch count. The Stros already have 6 starters so look for one of them ( Javier, Garcia, Urquidy or Odorizzi) to become a tandem starter (6th-9th innings) with McCullers, or they trade someone for outfield, first base or left handed relief help.
I’d just make McCullers the tandem guy.
Just shows how hanging on to your pitching depth and adding to it always , allowing a high priced ace leave once in a while , makes for a sustainable contender year in year out . Other GMs should take note
But sometimes a team needs to deal from the depth in order to strengthen other areas.
The Astros have started 6 guys so far this season
Each one has 10+ starts and league average or better results.
Lance McCullers and Hunter Brown are not among those 6.
This team has an aging 1B who is having a down year and an aging LF with a bad shoulder. Both will be FA after the World Series.
They need to take one or two of the young starters and trade for a guy to help at those 2 spots.
Very true, but JV might be gone next year. That seems more like an off-season move. If the Astros trade one starter, and then two go down, the team could be in dire straits. I prefer to trade other assets to improve LF and 1B. Ideally, the Astros can grab someone who can play both of those positions.
Seems like Javier is the best chip we have followed by Hunter Brown. If that would get us someone in CF/FB/C that we retain control then maybe but there’s not much there. Bell and Contreras are rentals and not much on the CF market. So Clicks job is a tough one although he said he’s being agressive.