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Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. is not throwing from a mound, supervisor Dusty Baker knowledgeable reporters, including Chandler Rome of the Athletic, earlier than Monday’s matchup with the Twins.
Baker didn’t present any further specifics, noting solely the membership will “take it gradual with Lance till we all know that he’s 100%.”
It’s unclear how important this newest improvement shall be — the Astros are as cagy as any staff about offering damage updates — but it surely represents a scaling again from the place McCullers was a pair weeks in the past.
He’d progressed to bullpen classes in mid-Could. Basic supervisor Dana Brown recently pegged the All-Star Break as a free estimate for his return to a giant league mound. It’s unclear if or to what extent that timeline may now be delayed.
McCullers hasn’t pitched this yr because of a muscle pressure in his forearm that was identified over the offseason. It marked the continuation of arm points for the 29-year-old, who was identified with a flexor pressure throughout the 2021 postseason.
That value him till mid-August final yr. McCullers returned to make 11 begins between the common season and playoffs to assist the Astros to a World Collection title however sadly once more battled arm soreness over the winter.
The proper-hander additionally has a Tommy John surgical procedure in his historical past, having undergone the process over the 2018-19 offseason. There’s nothing to counsel he’s at risk of going again underneath the knife to handle the present problem, but it surely provides one more reason for the Astros to be notably cautious as they navigate his restoration course of.
McCullers has confirmed a really efficient pitcher when wholesome. He owns a profession 3.48 ERA in 718 2/3 common season innings and has a virtually an identical 3.47 mark over 72 2/3 postseason frames.
He allowed solely 2.27 earned runs per 9 innings over his eight common season begins final yr. McCullers’ higher mid-rotation kind led the Astros to signal him to a five-year, $85M extension in March 2021. That deal covers the 2022-26 campaigns. He’s making $15.25M this season and shall be paid $17M yearly over the following three years.
His absence is one in every of quite a lot of rotation points for the Astros. Houston misplaced Luis Garcia to Tommy John surgical procedure earlier this month. José Urquidy is battling shoulder discomfort and may not be again till across the All-Star Break.
Cristian Javier, Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown have been unbelievable, however the accidents have pressured Houston to lean on depth choices like J.P. France and Brandon Bielak behind the employees. There’s just about no skilled depth within the group past that quintet, so the rotation figures to be a deadline goal space for Brown and his entrance workplace.
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