Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. has given new meaning to the phrase ¡°champagne problems.¡±

The right-hander was lined up to start Game 3 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, but he will start Game 4 instead. Why? McCullers said he was pushed back after being hit on the elbow by a champagne bottle and sustaining a small cut during the team¡¯s clubhouse celebration in Seattle following Game 3 of the ALDS.

¡°I¡¯m OK. It¡¯s just a little bit of swelling, not a huge deal,¡± McCullers said.

¡°Earlier in the week, we thought it would be beneficial to give me some days off, let everything settle down and give me an extra day to go [in] Game 4. It was really no one¡¯s fault. It was just an accident, so it¡¯s not a huge deal.¡±

McCullers reported no problems during a 35-pitch bullpen session Friday and will match up against Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes in Game 4.

This isn¡¯t the first odd injury of the 2022 postseason. Phillies reliever David Robertson was forced to miss the NLDS against the Braves after straining a calf muscle while celebrating Bryce Harper¡¯s home run in Game 2 of the team¡¯s Wild Card Series in St. Louis.