The Astros are planning to reinstate right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. from the injured list this weekend, the team announced to reporters Wednesday (link via Chandler Rome of The Athletic). He’ll take the ball Sunday to start against the White Sox.
Sunday will mark McCullers’ first appearance on a major league mound since the 2022 postseason. Even in 2022, McCullers was limited to 47 2/3 regular-season innings because of a forearm injury. He made his 2022 debut in August, pitched down the stretch and added another 15 postseason innings. His forearm again flared up in spring training 2023, and McCullers eventually underwent surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right arm and to remove bone spurs from his elbow.
That procedure ended McCullers’ 2023 season before it began, but the general expectation was that he’d return at some point in 2024. That never came to pass. McCullers worked through a throwing program last summer but never made it to the mound for a rehab start. The Astros revealed in August that McCullers was being shut back down due to persisting pain in his surgically repaired right arm. His absence extended into the 2025 season, but after making four rehab starts — including nine straight scoreless Triple-A frames — McCullers is now set to finally return to the majors.
“It’s a day I’ve been waiting for a long time,” McCullers replied when asked what Sunday’s return means to him (video link via Brian McTaggart of MLB.com). “I almost feel like I’m making my debut in some aspects. It’s been a really long road for me. I thank my teammates, the coaching staff, the Astros organization for standing by me and supporting me.”
Injuries have been a persistent theme throughout the now-31-year-old McCullers’ career, but there’s never been any doubt of his abilities when he’s been healthy enough to pitch. The former No. 41 overall draft pick was a top prospect before making his debut in 2015 and has posted a sub-4.00 ERA in six of his seven major league seasons. Overall, McCullers touts a career 3.48 earned run average, 26.5% strikeout rate and 9.8% walk rate in 718 2/3 regular season frames. His work in 72 2/3 postseason innings is nearly identical: 3.47 ERA, 26.5% strikeout rate, 7.3% walk rate.
It’s impossible to know what to expect from McCullers on the heels of such a lengthy absence. If he can recapture even 80% of his prior form, he’d be a boon to an Astros staff that has five other rotation options on the injured list (Luis Garcia, J.P. France, Cristian Javier, Spencer Arrighetti, Shawn Dubin). Hunter Brown has been one of MLB’s best pitchers this year, and fellow starters Framber Valdez and Hayden Wesneski have pitched well. Ryan Gusto has impressed in a small sample of 19 innings since being thrust into the rotation following Arighetti’s injury. Last year’s rotation savior, Ronel Blanco, has stumbled out of the gate with a 5.08 ERA.
On the whole, Astros starters rank seven in the majors with a 3.50 earned run average, but Blanco has struggled and the depth beyond the current quintet is a bit suspect. A healthy McCullers would be a pivotal development.
Houston signed McCullers to a five-year, $85MM extension back in March 2021 — a rare (but hardly unheard of) extension for a Boras Corporation client on the cusp of free agency. He was excellent in ’21, but those previously mentioned 63 innings (regular season and postseason combined) in 2022 are the only innings he’s pitched throughout the duration of that extension. He’s being paid $17MM this year and next in the final two seasons of that contract.
Wow, haven’t seen Lance on the mound in forever, hope everything goes well for him and the Astros.
I also wish him well after he ends up back on the IL sometime in May.
It’s not where you’re from; it’s where you’re at. McCullers.
Nice easy lineup to navigate in his first game back.
Last time he played he was in yr 1 of 5 yr extension. Hes been away so long, next yr is final yr of that deal
So, just for the weekend, correct?
But, he will be back on the IL after his first game.
I feel like this site is generally more forgiving, but on social media, it’s insane how much hate injured players get for missing time. They seem to think players just really itch for a chance to miss going out and doing the thing they trained their whole lives for.
“I feel like this site..how much hate”…People that label other opinions “hate” are not to be taken seriously.
Saying “hate” is just another way to demean and label others, signal your own virtues and essentially call anyone who disagrees with you a bad person.
You sound like a hater.
No offense man, but you don’t really seem to get what I mean by “gets hate”. But since you mention it, yeah, I don’t think feeling actual disdain for a pro athlete who gets hurt a lot is productive use of people’s time.
No, you’re wrong and he’s right. Hate is hate. Trying to justify and normalize your hatred is sad, weak and pathetic.
Where’s the mlbtr poll for this one?
How long will McCullers last before he hits the IL again?
I don’t know if he’ll become seriously injured again, but it’s almost a given he will have some kind of issue before the seasons up. But the odds of him becoming seriously injured again? Pretty high
“Like a hater”…When I hear people use terms like “hate” and “hater” within a sports debate, it just tells me they’ve lived sheltered lives and wouldn’t know real “hate” if it was standing right next to them .
I think if McCullers does go Sunday he may be on innings limit or pitch count. White Sox May be best team for him to get first and who knows if it lasts. Will he be 6th man or what. If have Framber, Brown, Blanco, Gusto Wesneski then McCullers. Does Blanco go back to long man in bullpen. I know it was said in Articles here that many said Blanco would regress. Too many fall that if someone has a hot season look out. Blanco did last season. Is he a starter truly of future. Not sure. Gusto was good in bullpen. Has been good in rotation. Last night hopefully a hiccup. Spencer returns probably mid May. France and Javier whether August return or September depending on where we are come June to start. Deadline as well if we buy and sell. Maybe pick someone to fit in for ne t season.
I do wonder as well with extensions. Did we not extend Javier to an e tension and he immediately went down. Not sure how long an extension but would this season fall into 2nd year of inactive nearly if out as long as perhaps expected. As well Garcia when he will return year two of inactive. Not sure on what his contract is. France too. Where will all be come deadline or this off season. Inactive doubt can get much. But just curious after McCullers time.
85 million earned to date
49 wins to date
Yes, but wins are such a yesterday metric. What’s McCuller’s ZWARB or BEEBOP during this timeframe?
It’s not your money, Captainmike1, don’t worry. The economy won’t collapse because of Lance McCullers’ contract and the 49 wins associated with it.
Agreed, but sholy hit, Lance McCullers will have ‘earned’ $103,215,000 at the end of his current contract. That’s not Monopoly money, that’s money coming from the pockets of baseball fans. That’s crucking fazy.
At last !
An intelligent person speaks !
If we’re playing the “stats that belong in a Buffalo Wild Wings bar debate” game, he had critical appearances in the 2021 ALDS and 2022 postseason. So you can play the Barry Zito card and say it was worth it even by surface-level standards.
Who?