Lance McCullers Jr. Looking Unlikely to Return in September
Lance McCullers Jr. (hand) went on the 15-day injured list last Friday with right-hand soreness, and he might not be able to return before the end of the regular season. "There's a chance that this is the last that we've seen of him," general manager Dana Brown said. "Is it possible he could get back for the last couple of games? There's probably an outside chance, but highly unlikely." The Athletic's Chandler Rome writes there are "few permutations" that exist where McCullers is a logical fit for potential playoff rosters, too. The 31-year-old just hasn't been able to stay healthy and had a 6.88 ERA and 1.85 WHIP in his 52 1/3 innings for the Astros this season. His usage before his injury came as basically a last resort out of the bullpen. McCullers will need a completely healthy offseason -- something he hasn't had since 2021 -- to have any hope of bouncing back next year.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Houston Astros right-hander Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome

Read More News