Astros' Lance McCullers: Can't find plate in return
Rotowire
McCullers came away with a no-decision in Friday's 10-7 win over the Orioles, giving up three runs on five hits and five walks in four innings. He struck out four.
Out since July 19 due to blister issues, McCullers had trouble finding the plate in his return, tossing 50 of 97 pitches for strikes and falling short of qualifying for the win in a game in which the Astros never trailed. The five free passes were a season high for the right-hander, but he's issued multiple walks in six straight big-league starts dating back to June 10, compiling a disastrous 9.38 ERA, 2.21 WHIP and 21:22 K:BB in 24 innings over that stretch. With Luis Garcia (elbow) closing in on his return, McCullers may find himself bumped from the rotation as soon as next week.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Reinstated ahead of start
Rotowire
The Astros activated McCullers (finger) from the 15-day injured list Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
McCullers is set to rejoin the rotation Friday in Baltimore after missing more than a month of action with a blister on his pitching hand. The veteran right-hander threw 80 pitches and went five innings in his lone rehab start, so he shouldn't have much of a workload restriction Friday.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Set to rejoin rotation Friday
Rotowire
Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that McCullers (finger) will rejoin the rotation Friday in Baltimore, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Coming back from a blister, McCullers permitted just one run while fanning five batters over five innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land last Friday. The right-hander threw 80 pitches in that outing, so he shouldn't have any major workload limitations against the Orioles.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Tosses 80 pitches
Rotowire
McCullers (finger) allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out five across five innings in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
McCullers threw 80 pitches while averaging 91.9 mph with his fastball. Prior to the outing, general manager Dana Brown said the Astros would have to decide whether McCullers needed an additional rehab start before being activated. While no official decision has been made, McCullers looks to have checked a lot of boxes with his outing Friday night.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Set for rehab outing
Rotowire
McCullers (finger) will begin a rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Sugar Land, MLB.com reports.
McCullers threw a bullpen session in Houston on Tuesday after throwing a four-inning simulated game a week earlier. Given the significant ramp-up before his scheduled rehab start, McCullers could be activated from the injured list by late August.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Throws simulated game
Rotowire
McCullers (finger) threw a four-inning simulated game Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
While McCullers is already stretched out to four innings, Astros manager Joe Espada indicated Sunday that the righty will throw 1-to-2 more times off a mound and could require a rehab assignment before rejoining the rotation. Espada's comments suggest that McCullers -- who is working his way back from a blister -- probably won't be back with the big club until at least mid-August.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Resumes throwing off mound
Rotowire
Astros manager Joe Espada said Sunday that McCullers (finger) has resumed throwing off a mound and is scheduled for "another bullpen or two" before he starts facing live hitters, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
McCullers was placed on the injured list July 22 after developing a blister on his pitching hand and will wind up missing more than the minimum 15 days. Based on Espada's comments, McCullers could be ready to face hitters by next week, though it's unclear if the right-hander would be cleared to immediately return from the IL after that or if he would first have to go out on a minor-league rehab assignment. With a 6.90 ERA and 1.74 WHIP over 44.1 innings in his 11 starts with Houston this season, McCullers could be at risk of moving to the bullpen upon his activation, as the Astros could get starters Spencer Arrighetti (thumb), Christian Javier (elbow), Luis Garcia (elbow) and Brandon Walter (elbow) back from the IL before him or around the same time.
The Astros announced Monday that McCullers (finger) has resumed playing catch, but he has yet to begin throwing off a mound, Matthew Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Though McCullers isn't expected to be in line for an extended absence after landing on the 15-day injured list a week ago due to a blister on his pitching hand, he doesn't appear to be on pace to be activated when first eligible next Monday. McCullers is one of seven Astros starters currently on the IL, but Houston should get some reinforcement for its rotation soon since four of those pitchers are in the midst of rehab assignments.
The Astros placed McCullers on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a blister on his right finger, retroactive to Sunday.
McCullers was lit up for four earned runs in just 2.2 innings during his last start Friday, and his move to the IL will ensure that his next outing doesn't come until at least early August. Nick Hernandez was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land to provide Houston with some extra bullpen depth, though it's currently unclear who will fill the open spot in the rotation.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Another short outing Saturday
Rotowire
McCullers allowed four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out one over 2.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Saturday.
McCullers has failed to finish four innings in three of his last four appearances and in five of 11 starts overall this year. He was at 75 pitches (41 strikes) when he was pulled during the Mariners' third-inning rally Saturday. McCullers kept the ball in the yard for the first time in five starts, but he's still giving up too many baserunners -- he's issued 17 walks over his last 20 innings. For the season, he's at a 6.90 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 50:29 K:BB through 44.1 innings. The right-hander is lined up for a home start versus the Athletics next week.
Astros' Lance McCullers: Lasts just three innings in defeat
Rotowire
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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