Lance McCullers

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• Astros' Lance McCullers: Fires two innings

  03/12/2020 •

  McCullers allowed one hit and one walk while striking out three over two scoreless innings in Wednesday's spring game against the Nationals. McCullers needed 50 pitches (31 strikes) to get six outs and hit 95 mph with his fastball, according to Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports. "I'm very happy with the velo and happy with the way I'm able to move the fastball around, with the changeup early -- swing-and-miss changeup," he said. "I couldn't ask for anything more except maybe being a little more efficient with my pitch count." McCullers has moved up to the No. 2 slot in the rotation in the wake of Justin Verlander's lat injury and is expected to take the ball for the second game of the season, March 27, against the Angels.

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• Astros' Lance McCullers: Throws 29 pitches Friday

  03/07/2020 •

  McCullers allowed two runs on two hits while striking out two in Friday's spring game against the Mets. McCullers made his second Grapefruit League start -- and second since recovering from Tommy John surgery -- throwing 29 pitches (17 strikes). The right-hander told Brian McTaggart of MLB.com he mostly worked on his four-seamer during the outing. It's a pitch he's gotten away from recently, but he wants to feel comfortable with it again. McCullers is a curveball-heavy thrower who mixes in sinkers and changeups. He came out of Friday's outing pleased with those three pitches.

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• Astros' Lance McCullers: Optimistic following spring debut

  03/01/2020 •

  McCullers felt great after facing three batters in his first start since August of 2018, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. McCullers allowed one hit before striking out Paul Goldschmidt during the first inning of Sunday's 5-4 win against the Cardinals. The 26-year-old was sitting at 16 pitches after striking out Goldschmidt in the first inning and manager Dusty Baker didn't want to push it. McCullers sat out all of last season after having Tommy John surgery in November 2018. The 2017 All-Star is preparing to fill the No. 3 spot in a Houston starting rotation that is headlined by former Cy Young winners Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke.

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• Astros' Lance McCullers: Spring debut on tap

  02/27/2020 •

  McCullers is scheduled to start Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. As expected, McCullers is on track to make his Grapefruit League debut over the weekend after tossing his first bullpen session of the spring earlier in the week. The right-hander, who missed all of the 2019 season while on the mend following Tommy John surgery, is competing for the No. 3 spot in Houston's rotation.

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• Astros' Lance McCullers: Spring debut looms

  02/26/2020 •

  McCullers threw his first bullpen session of the spring Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. McCullers, who missed all of 2019 while on the mend following Tommy John elbow surgery, is among the candidates for the No. 3 spot in the rotation. Houston manager Dusty Baker expects the right-hander to get into a game for the first time since 2018 within the next few days.

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