McCullers to miss second straight full season

HOUSTON -- Astros manager Joe Espada announced Sunday that veteran pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. will miss the rest of the season, a move which doesn’t come as a surprise considering he was shut down from throwing a month ago while rehabbing an injury. McCullers, 30, has not pitched in the Majors since 2022.

The right-hander had surgery in June 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur, but was hoping to return to the mound for the Astros at the end of this season. He had progressed to throwing bullpens at Minute Maid Park, but was pulled off his rehab in July and sought a second opinion from doctors. Espada said there was no structural damage to his elbow, but there has been no reason given for the latest setback.

“Where he’s at right now, I think it’s safe to say I don’t think he’ll pitch this season,” Espada said. “It would be almost too much to ask him to ramp up and get him back this season. Everything is moving in the right direction, but with the number of games [remaining], that’s where we’re at.”

McCullers last pitched in Game 3 of the 2022 World Series, giving up five homers in a loss to the Phillies. He pitched in eight games at the end of the regular season that year after injuring his flexor tendon in Game 4 of the 2021 American League Division Series and taking most of the ‘22 season to rehab the injury. He missed the entire ‘19 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Since signing a five-year, $85-million contract extension in March 2021, McCullers has pitched in 41 games, including the playoffs, throwing 236 innings. He had the best season of his career in ’21, going 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA in the regular season.

“He wants to [pitch] and we need him to,” Espada said. “We all want him to be out there for us. It’s frustrating because I’ve seen how hard he’s worked to try to get back. I know the contribution he’s made for so many years. He’s part of the family, he’s a big part of things that we have accomplished. Just not good, you know? I expect him to continue to work hard and we’ll see him again.”

The Astros were hoping to get McCullers back for the stretch run to bolster a rotation that’s been decimated by injury this year. Cristian Javier and José Urquidy underwent Tommy John surgery in June and Justin Verlander has been out nearly two months with a stiff neck. Verlander threw 37 pitches in the bullpen Sunday and is set to begin a Minor League rehab assignment in August.

Meanwhile, Luis Garcia, who underwent Tommy John surgery last year, had a setback following a Minor League rehab outing on July 4. He was nearing another rehab start before being pulled back last week. Espada said he’s feeling better and could resume throwing soon.

“He’s still a no-throw, but he feels good,” Espada said. “Hopefully we get him back and up here in the next couple of days, too.”

The Astros acquired Yusei Kikuchi from the Blue Jays at the Trade Deadline last week and are hoping to have Verlander join a six-man rotation for the final six weeks of the regular season.