Lance McCullers Jr. Activated by the Astros
The Houston Astros have activated right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. from the injured list to start Saturday’s home game against the Chicago Cubs. At the same time, the team sent right-handed pitcher Nick Hernandez to Triple-A Sugar Land.
McCullers, who is 1-2 with an ERA of 4.91 in seven starts this season, had been out since June 13 due to a right foot sprain. This will be his first start since June 10, when he allowed four runs on four hits and four walks, with six strikeouts in five innings, in a 4-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
Before this injury, McCullers had recorded consecutive quality starts, with 19 strikeouts in 12 innings. He made his season debut on May 4, after missing the last two seasons due to injuries.
In eight seasons in the Major Leagues since 2015, all with the Astros, McCullers has a 50-34 record with a 3.54 ERA in 137 appearances (134 starts).
Hernandez, 30 years old, recorded a 9.00 ERA in two relief appearances. In nine appearances in the Major Leagues in the last three seasons, he has a 9.00 ERA in 13 innings for the San Diego Padres (2023) and the Astros.
