May 4, 2025
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Lance McCullers Jr. did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The former No. 41 overall pick allowed three hits, struck out four, issued three free passes, and hit one batter over 3 2/3 innings (87 pitches, 51 strikes). McCullers Jr. had a clean third inning where he retired the side in order, though he otherwise had runners crowding the base paths. Fortunately, he escaped trouble until he was pulled in the fourth. It wasn't a very efficient outing, but overall solid considering the last time he pitched in live action was the 2022 World Series. The 31-year-old touched 93.8 MPH with his sinker on a few occasions and picked up the second-most swings-and-misses of all pitchers in the contest (six). If the Astros stick to a five-man rotation, McCullers Jr. would pitch again next weekend against the Cincinnati Reds, though that isn't a guarantee.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
April 30, 2025
Houston Astros right-hander
Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) will make his 2025 season debut on Sunday in Chicago against the White Sox, according to the Houston Chronicle's Matt Kawahara. It's an excellent matchup for his season debut, but fantasy managers need to remember that this will be McCullers' first big-league start since the World Series in 2022. The 31-year-old veteran started facing live hitters back in February and posted a 2.84 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 16 strikeouts and six walks in four minor-league rehab starts over 12 2/3 innings with Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land. He threw five scoreless innings over 71 pitches in his final rehab start last Saturday, so he should be built up to go fairly deep this weekend. McCullers was fantasy relevant in all leagues before his forearm injuries set in, but his upside could be limited as the Astros handle him carefully.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
April 12, 2025
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Lance McCullers Jr. (elbow) was impressive on the mound during his rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday. The right-hander struck over five batters over four shutout innings during this outing. McCullers allowed one hit and one walk, but was perfect outside of that. He threw 42 of his 61 pitches for strikes and appears to be headed in the right direction. The expectation is that McCullers will probably need to make at least one more rehab start. Hopefully, McCullers can get back on the big league mound by the end of April.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Lorenzo Delgado
March 31, 2025
Houston Astros right-hander
Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) allowed two earned runs and struck out three batters in his two innings of work in his first minor-league rehab start on Sunday at Triple-A Sugar Land. McCullers hit 94.9 mph on the radar gun in what was overall a positive outing, especially when considering it was his first real game action since the World Series in 2022. The 31-year-old also threw a scoreless inning in his only action in the Grapefruit League during spring training. McCullers had surgery to fix the flexor tendon in his right arm back in 2023 and hasn't pitched since after having multiple setbacks along the way. It's looking he may finally make his return to Houston's starting rotation in 2025, but he has a ways to go still, and the Astros are going to take their time. McCullers deserves to be stashed in deep-mixed and AL-only leagues, but his fantasy upside will be limited while on a strict workload this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Randy McIlvoy
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