Houston Astros’ right-hand pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. is set to make his long-awaited comeback to the majors. McCullers, who hasn’t played since 2022, will be the Astros’ starter for Sunday’s game against the Chicago White Sox according to manager Joe Espada.
McCullers’ last appearance on the mound in MLB came in Game 3 of the 2022 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. A muscle strain ruled him out for the start of 2023 before he was shut down for the season following surgery on his pitching arm. He then experienced a setback in his rehab that prevented him from returning in 2024.
McCullers has now completed four rehab starts in the minors, including pitching five shutout innings for Corpus Christi in Double-A, which was enough for Espada to give him the nod against the White Sox.
“I’m really excited to have him on the mound on Sunday,” Espada told reporters on Wednesday. “He’s worked his tail off to get back to this point, and this whole entire team and this city should be excited to get Lance back.”
“Been waiting for it for a long time,” McCullers added. “Almost feel like I’m making my debut in some aspects, but it’s been a really long road for me.”
McCullers was drafted by the Astros in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft and received his MLB debut in 2015. He won two World Series in Houston and was named an All-Star in 2017. His career stats include a 49–32 record, 3.48 ERA and 800 strikeouts.
