The Astros will move Lance McCullers Jr. to the bullpen on a short-term basis to change things up and limit his workload. McCullers returned to the majors in 2025 after not pitching in 2023 or 2024 following flexor tendon surgery and bone-spur removal, and limited action in 2022 due to a forearm injury. He has logged 48 1/3 major-league innings this season but posted a 6.89 ERA across 12 starts with a 14.3% walk rate and multiple IL stints for foot and blister issues. The move aims to reset his routine while the Astros maintain a slim AL West lead.
McCullers has returned to the big leagues this year after two completely lost seasons. He didn't pitch at all in 2023 or 2024 due to issues with his throwing arm. In 2023, he had surgery to repair his flexor tendon and remove bone spurs from his elbow. The recovery period dragged on longer than expected, preventing him from pitching in 2024. Since a forearm injury limited him to just eight starts in 2022, he had thrown very little over the previous three years.
His return in 2025 has not been triumphant. Since being reinstated from the injured list in early May, he has twice gone back on the IL, once due to a right foot sprain and once due to a blister. Around those IL trips, he has a 6.89 ERA over 12 starts. He has walked 14.3% of batters faced this year. He returned from the blister issue last week and made one start, walking five batters in four innings.
Despite the challenges the Astros have faced with their pitching this year, they are atop the American League West. However, their lead over the Mariners is just a game and a half. If the Mariners catch up, the Astros are only 4.5 games ahead of the Royals, the top American League team not in playoff position. Though the Astros are in a decent spot, they still have to win games for another month to crack the postseason.
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