Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (elbow) reportedly won't be ready for Opening Day, per MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. Per McTaggart on Twitter on Wednesday morning: "McCullers had an MRI last night and there's no structural damage to elbow. He said it was a small muscle strain. He hopes to rehab and be able to throw 150 innings this year, but he'll be shut down for a few weeks." The 28-year-old pitched to a 2.27 ERA and a 3.49 FIP in 47.2 innings spanning eight starts for the Astros last season, logging four pitcher wins in the process. The veteran also registered 50 strikeouts and 22 walks. Houston's current rotation options include Framber Valdez, Jose Urquidy, Luis Garcia, Cristian Javier and Hunter Brown.

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker said that starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (arm) experienced some arm soreness in camp, but the skipper didn't specify what kind of soreness exactly after McCullers threw a bullpen session on Tuesday. Baker isn't very concerned. It sounds as if the 29-year-old right-hander is dealing with the same forearm injury that he dealt with in 2022, which kept him from making his season debut until Aug. 13. But he was very good in his return in the second half, easing concerns about the forearm injury. Injuries are the biggest concern with McCullers -- he's never gone over 162 innings pitched in a single season -- but he's very intriguing for fantasy managers when he's healthy for the defending World Series champs. We'll keep a close eye on his arm this spring.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. did not deliver when it counted most Tuesday night, allowing a whopping five home runs to the Philadelphia Phillies in World Series Game 3. All told, McCullers Jr. allowed seven runs on six hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings. He took the loss as the Astros fell 7-0. In three starts this postseason, McCullers Jr. has been responsible for a 5.87 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 18 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings. It remains to be seen what his role will be as the series progresses.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. will get the nod for Monday's Game 3 against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to manager Dusty Baker. The right-hander pitched in Game 4 of their last series, so this appears to be a minor change. Now, Cristian Javier is likely to take the mound for Game 4, but the team hasn't made an official announcement on that. The 29-year-old has only allowed three earned runs through 11 postseason innings so far.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. struck out six batters in his start against the New York Yankees in the fourth game of the American League Championship Series on Sunday. The right-hander allowed eight hits, four runs, three earned runs, and a walk in five innings of work. He also registered 11 swinging strikes on 100 pitches to go along with a strong 34% CSW rate. The three earned runs allowed by the 29-year-old on Sunday are the only earned runs he's given up in 11 postseason innings this season.

Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (elbow) said he got hit on the elbow bone by a spare champagne bottle during the celebration after winning the American League Division Series over the Seattle Mariners, which is why he's being pushed back to Game 4 of the AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees on Sunday. He threw a bullpen session on Friday and said everything is fine. In his Game 3 starts in the ALDS against the Mariners, the 29-year-old tossed six shutout innings while walking two and striking out seven. McCullers got a late start to the 2022 season and made only eight starts during the regular season due to injury, so he hasn't faced the Yankees yet this year.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. shut out the Seattle Mariners for six innings in Saturday's Division Series game three. He didn't get the victory but was a significant part of the 18-inning, 1-0 win that completed the series sweep. McCullers Jr. recorded seven strikeouts, walked a pair, and allowed just two hits in his first postseason start of the year. Although the right-hander was on the shelf for most of the season with a forearm injury, he pitched well down the stretch, posting four wins with a 2.27 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 25.6% strikeout rate over eight starts. McCullers Jr.'s next start will likely come in game three of the Championship Series.

Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (illness) is lined up to start on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies after missing his start last Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks due to an unspecified illness. McCullers lost a few pounds but is good to go to kick off the final series of the regular season. It will be a final tune-up for the 29-year-old before the start of the postseason for the Astros in the Division Series. The Astros will be cautious with his usage in his start on Monday, so he'll be a bit more risky for anyone still playing for a fantasy title this week. McCullers has been strong in his seven starts for Houston this year, going 4-1 with a 2.38 ERA (3.40 FIP), a 1.25 WHIP, 45 strikeouts and 21 walks in 41 2/3 frames.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (illness) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday at Minute Maid Park, and the tentative plan would be for him to return to the starting rotation on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies. McCullers was unable to make his last start on Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks due to an illness, but he appears to be recovered and could make one more start next week before the regular season ends. The 28-year-old right-hander has made only seven starts for the Astros this year due to injury, but he's been good in those starts, going 4-1 with a 2.38 ERA (3.40 FIP), a 1.25 WHIP, 45 strikeouts and 21 walks in 41 2/3 frames.

Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (illness) was scratched from his scheduled start on Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks with an "illness," according to the team. Right-hander Luis Garcia will now make the start instead. McCullers has only made seven starts in 2022 after he got a late start to the season due to an injury, but he's pitched well in his seven starts, going 4-1 with a 2.38 ERA (3.41 FIP), a 1.25 WHIP, 45 strikeouts and 21 walks in 41 2/3 innings. It's unclear when or if he'll make another start in the regular season. Garcia has a 3.90 ERA (4.03 FIP), a 1.17 WHIP and a 147:46 K:BB in 26 starts for Houston this year and will be a fine streaming option for fantasy managers with something left to play for this year.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. had a nice night on the mound on Thursday as he struck out 11 batters in his club's 5-2 win over the Athletics. He unfortunately settled for a no-decision after allowing two runs on two hits and four walks over six innings of work, throwing 99 pitches in the sharp performance. McCullers only ran into trouble in the fourth inning when he loaded the bases before giving up a two-run single, but he would go on to retire the next eight batters he faced to end his night. The 28-year-old will take a 2.34 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 37 K through 34 2/3 IP into his next start versus the Rays next week.

Houston Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. won his third game of the season on Friday when his club defeated the Los Angeles Angels 4-3. He pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out six and walking one. McCullers missed the first four and a half months of the year with a forearm injury but has been decent in his five starts since returning. The right-hander owns a stellar 2.20 ERA, albeit with a 1.33 WHIP, 21.7% strikeout rate, and 12.5% walk rate. Playing for the Astros alone makes him relevant in just about every league, and hopefully, he can progress back to the pitcher who posted a 27.0 K% last season.

Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) will make his season debut on Saturday and start against the Oakland Athletics. McCullers will be activated from the 60-day injured list and make his first start since last postseason. With his return, the Astros will move to a six-man starting rotation. The 28-year-old had a 6.75 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, 17 strikeouts and seven walks in 13 1/3 innings over four minor league rehab starts with Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land. He got up to 86 pitches in his final rehab start last Sunday, so McCullers shouldn't be limited in a great matchup against the A's in his first start. McCullers led baseball with 76 walks in 2021, but he also had 185 K's, a 3.16 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP in 28 starts. He could be a difference-maker for fantasy baseball squads the rest of the way.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) went five innings in his latest minor league rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, allowing five earned runs on seven hits (two home runs) while walking three and striking out five. It wasn't a great outing for McCullers, and it remains to be seen if the Astros will be comfortable activating him from the 60-day injured list for his season debut in the majors after this performance. Whenever the 28-year-old returns to the starting rotation, the Astros are expected to move to a six-man rotation. Although McCullers led baseball in 2021 with 76 walks, he has the upside to warrant a roster spot in most fantasy leagues the rest of the way.

Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm), who was injured in last year's postseason, will make his fourth minor league rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday and could then face a decision on whether he's ready to be activated from the injured list. McCullers allowed two earned runs on three hits while striking out five and walking three in 3 1/3 innings for Sugar Land in his previous rehab start on Aug. 2. The 28-year-old tossed 76 pitches, so he's close to being fully built up for a starting role. Although he led the majors with 76 walks in 28 starts last year, McCullers also had a 3.16 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP and a career-high 185 strikeouts in 162 1/3 innings. McCullers could be a difference-maker for fantasy managers to close out the second half of the season.

Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out four across three innings in Tuesday's rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land. He threw 40 pitches over two frames in his previous rehab outing. The 28-year-old will continue to ramp up his activity as he works his way back from a forearm injury suffered during the Astros' 2021 playoff run. Barring any setbacks, he is on target to return in August. McCullers owned a 3.16 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP and 185 strikeouts in 162 1/3 innings in 2021. Fantasy managers should continue to stash McCullers in all league formats.

Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) allowed an earned run on three hits while striking out three, walking none and hitting one batter in two innings of work in his first minor league rehab outing with Double-A Corpus Christi on Friday. He was able to throw 28 of his 40 pitches for strikes. It was McCullers' first game action since the playoffs last year. The 28-year-old will certainly need at least several more rehab outings before the Astros are comfortable activating him for his 2022 season debut in their starting rotation. It remains to be seen how effective he'll be immediately upon his return after such a long layoff, but he needs to be stashed in all fantasy formats after going 13-5 in 2021 with a 3.16 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP and 185 strikeouts in 162 1/3 innings over 28 regular season starts.

Fox 26's Mark Berman reported Tuesday that Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) will make his first rehab start on Friday with Double-A Corpus Christi. He is scheduled to pitch two innings. The 28-year-old threw two innings and 40 pitches in a simulated game last Saturday as well. Fantasy managers will be eager to have McCullers Jr. back in their rotations, as he went 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 27% strikeout rate over 28 starts in 2021. He will likely need to make several more rehab starts, but this is a step in the right direction.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) threw 20 pitches in his latest bullpen session on June 3 and hit 87 mph on the radar gun while mixing in his two-seam fastball and changeup. McCullers initially injured his right arm in last year's playoffs and suffered a setback in his recovery in January. The 28-year-old right-hander is slowly progressing, but he isn't close at all to rejoining the team's starting rotation to make his 2022 season debut. McCullers has the upside to be an excellent arm for fantasy managers and he should return at some point this year, barring setbacks, but you may want to temper expectations for now.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) threw 15 pitches off the mound on Tuesday. He threw mostly two-seamers and changeups and saw his velocity reach the mid-80s, topping at 86 mph. In his previous throwing session last Friday, his velocity had been in the low-80s. McCullers is scheduled to throw again on Friday. The 28-year-old has yet to make his 2022 debut and remains without a clear timetable. He's a worthy stash in all fantasy leagues following a year in which he went 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP.