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Houston • #43 • SP

Lance McCullers

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Schedule

Preseason
@
NYM
Sun, Mar 16
W 5-0
vs
WAS
Tue, Mar 18
L 4-3
vs
NYM
Wed, Mar 19
L 8-2
@
MIA
Thu, Mar 20
W 11-0
@
STL
Fri, Mar 21
W 5-3
vs
MIA
Sat, Mar 22
L 6-5
@
WAS
Sun, Mar 23
12:05 pm
Regular season
vs
NYM
Thu, Mar 27
4:10 pm
vs
NYM
Fri, Mar 28
8:10 pm
ATV
vs
NYM
Sat, Mar 29
7:15 pm
FOX
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Player Outlook
Once a dependable rotation piece for the Astros Dynasty, Lance McCullers spent 2024 rehabbing from flexor tendon surgery and hasn't pitched on a big-league mound since the 2022 World Series (he also made just eight regular-season starts that year while recovering from a similar procedure). He has two years and $35.4 million left on his contract, so the opportunities will be there if he can get healthy. The right-hander had a 3.16 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 185:76 K:BB over 162.1 innings during his last full season in 2021, but he's since undergone multiple arm surgeries that carried complications. McCullers could be worth a flyer if he's able to enter camp in good shape, but there shouldn't be any serious expectations for him in 2025. Even if he looks like his old self, he's likely to have a limited workload.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
ip
Innings Pitched
w
Wins
l
Losses
sv
Saves
so
Strikeouts
bb
Base on Balls (Walk)
era
Earned Run Average
whip
Walks and Hits Allowed Per Inning
2025 — — — — — — — — 0.00 0.00
2024 — — — — — — — — 0.00 0.00
2023 — — — — — — — — 0.00 0.00
3y Avg. 41.513.8 16.0 1 1 — 17 7 2.25 1.19
Full Career Stats

Fantasy News

  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Throws 13 pitches

    Rotowire
    McCullers (forearm) threw one inning without allowing a hit or a run in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. McCullers took the mound for the first time since the 2022 World Series after working through several different arm injuries. He threw 13 pitches as a first step in what will likely remain a lengthy ramp up to return to big-league action. Nevertheless, it was a positive sign of his potential to make an impact with Houston in 2025.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Grapefruit debut set for Tuesday

    Rotowire
    Astros manager Joe Espada said Friday that McCullers (forearm) will make his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday against the Nationals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. The right-hander touched 94 mph during his most recent live batting practice session and felt fine physically, clearing the way for his spring debut. This will be the first time McCullers has pitched in a game since the 2022 World Series, as he's dealt with numerous arm issues since then. He will begin the year on the injured list but could be ready for a spot in the Astros' rotation relatively early on in the season.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Spring debut as soon as Tuesday

    Rotowire
    McCullers (forearm) could make his Grapefruit League debut as soon as Tuesday against the Nationals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. McCullers completed another live batting practice session Wednesday, saying afterward that he felt fine and touched 94 miles per hour with his fastball. The news has been promising on the right-hander this spring as he comes back from two missed seasons due to arm problems. McCullers will begin the season on the injured list, but he could be an option to join the Houston rotation by May 1 or so.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: One more live BP before debut

    Rotowire
    Astros manager Joe Espada said that McCullers (forearm) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. The upcoming live BP session represents the final hurdle McCullers will need to clear before taking the mound for what would be his first game action since the 2022 World Series. Now 31 years old and no longer an intriguing prospect, the right-hander missed the last two seasons while recovering from June 2023 surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon and remove a bone spur from his right forearm. He had been expected to return to action at some point in 2024, but those plans were tabled after he suffered a setback in his throwing program last summer. McCullers resumed throwing off a mound over the winter and seems to have steered clear of any setbacks since then, leaving the Astros optimistic he'll be able to contribute this season. While he remains on track to open the season on the injured list, the fact that he's on the cusp of pitching in spring games suggests that his lengthy stint on the shelf could finally end early in 2025.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Close to pitching in game

    Rotowire
    Astros manager Joe Espada said Friday that McCullers (forearm) is "really, really close" to pitching in a game, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. McCullers threw another live batting practice session Friday and came out of it well, and it appears the next step could be for him to try things out in a game setting. The right-hander will not be ready to pitch for Houston on Opening Day, but things have been trending in a good direction with his rehab this spring. McCullers hasn't appeared in a major-league game since the 2022 World Series due to multiple arm injuries.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Big step in recovery

    Rotowire
    McCullers (forearm) threw live batting practice to three teammates Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. McCullers threw a total of 20 pitches and managed to hit 94.7 mph with his fastball. He also mixed in his curveball, sinker and changeup. McCullers still plans to complete at least three more live batting practice sessions, but his stated goal is to appear in a Grapefruit League game.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Cleared for live BP

    Rotowire
    McCullers (forearm) will throw live a live batting practice session Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. McCullers will face hitters for the first time since he underwent surgery in June 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. McCullers has already been ruled out for Opening Day but hopes to make some Grapefruit League appearances this spring. He hasn't appeared in a major-league game since the 2022 World Series due to multiple arm injuries.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Close to facing hitters

    Rotowire
    McCullers (forearm) will be cleared for live batting practice if he gets through a bullpen session Monday with no issues, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. McCullers has thrown several recent bullpen sessions without any hiccups and is almost ready to face hitters. The right-hander will not be ready in time for Opening Day, but he hopes to make some Grapefruit League appearances before the schedule runs out. McCullers hasn't appeared in a big-league game since the 2022 World Series due to multiple arm injuries.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Aims for late-camp game appearances

    Rotowire
    McCullers (forearm) hopes to pitch in Grapefruit League games toward the end of spring training, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. He would then be assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land after that to begin a rehab assignment. McCullers had surgery in June of 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur, and he had to be shut down last July due to arm soreness. However, his recovery has been going well recently, and he began throwing bullpen sessions in January. McCullers could conceivably be ready to pitch for the Astros around May 1, but any timeline for the oft-injured righty is still guesswork.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Will miss Opening Day

    Rotowire
    General manager Dana Brown said Saturday that McCullers (forearm) will not be ready for the start of the regular season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. McCullers recently returned to throwing off a mound and still hopes to return early in the year, but it now appears that he will begin the season on the injured list for the third time in a row. The 31-year-old righty hasn't appeared in an MLB game since the 2022 World Series after undergoing surgery in June 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Throwing off mound again

    Rotowire
    McCullers (forearm/elbow) has resumed throwing off a mound and is hoping to return early in the 2025 season, MLB.com reports. McCullers had surgery in June of 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. After progressing to mound work in May last year, he had his throwing program halted and was ultimately shut down due to soreness in his pitching arm. Testing didn't reveal any structural damage and he's back to throwing off the bump again, although it sounds like it's no given he'll be ready for Opening Day. McCullers last pitched in a major-league game during the 2022 World Series.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Won't pitch in 2024

    Rotowire
    Astros manager Joe Espada said Sunday that it's "pretty safe to say" McCullers (forearm) won't be activated from the 60-day injured list this season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. McCullers underwent surgery last June to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur and had been hopeful to return to the Astros around the middle of the season. After progressing to throwing bullpen sessions in May, McCullers had his rehab program shut down in July and received a second opinion from doctors. Though McCullers was diagnosed with no new structural damage to his elbow, the recent setback he had a few weeks ago will be enough to slow him down and take a 2024 return off the table. The 30-year-old hasn't pitched for the Astros since the 2022 World Series, and he had already missed the entire 2019 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. McCullers remains on Houston's books through 2026 after signing a five-year, $85 million extension in March 2021.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Still not throwing

    Rotowire
    General manager Dana Brown said Tuesday that McCullers (forearm) has not yet resumed throwing, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. A setback in McCullers' recovery has prevented him from throwing since July 9, and although he is not dealing with any structural damage, his progress remains slow. Brown noted that the right-hander may still be able to pitch for the Astros in September, but he won't have a clear timetable until he is cleared to resume his throwing program.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: No structural damage in elbow

    Rotowire
    McCullers said Friday that he has no structural damage in his right elbow or forearm, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. Despite that assurance, McCullers still has not resumed throwing after being shut down July 9. However, manager Joe Espada said the right-hander may be able to restart a throwing program within the next several days depending on how he feels. McCullers hasn't pitched in an MLB game since 2022 and still figures to be at least several weeks away from a potential return to the Astros.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Shut down from throwing

    Rotowire
    Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that McCullers (forearm) will not throw for a few days, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. Espada noted that McCullers' throwing arm was not responding well between bullpen sessions, and the 30-year-old will rest while the team figures out next steps. It's a step back for McCulers, who hasn't pitched since the 2022 World Series and is working his way back from June 2023 surgery to repair the flexor tendon and remove a bone spur in his right forearm.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Throwing off mound Saturday

    Rotowire
    McCullers (forearm) is scheduled to throw 25 warmup pitches Saturday and then sit down to mimic a break between innings before re-taking the mound, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. Saturday's session will be McCullers' first up-down since undergoing surgery last June. He's expected to simulate one more up-down before the Astros consider having the right-hander face hitters. McCullers appears to be on track for an August return.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Making progress

    Rotowire
    McCullers (forearm) threw 25 pitches off the bullpen mound Thursday, MLB.com reports. McCullers has been ramping up his activity since mid-April, and he managed to throw both sinkers and changeups in addition to his fastball Thursday. He's behind teammate Luis Garcia (elbow) in his recovery, but McCullers could be activated from the injured list at some point in August.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Throws light bullpen session

    Rotowire
    McCullers (forearm) threw a 10-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. McCullers had previously done some throwing from the front slope of the mound, but Saturday marked his first time throwing from the top of the bump since he had surgery last June to repair the flexor tendon and remove a bone spur from his forearm. It's a big step, but McCullers is still at least a month away from a rehab assignment, with a return from the 60-day injured list perhaps coming in July if all goes well.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Placed on 60-day IL

    Rotowire
    The Astros placed McCullers (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Tayler Scott, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Sugar Land. McCullers is expected to be out until late June or early July as he continues his recovery from right elbow surgery.
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  • Astros' Lance McCullers: Targeting late-June return

    Rotowire
    McCullers (forearm) said Monday that he's aiming to make his season debut in "late June, early July" Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. McCullers has been limited to flat-ground throwing during spring training after undergoing surgery June 13 to repair the flexor tendon in his right elbow and remove a bone spur. He noted that his procedure carries an estimated recovery timeline of 13-to-15 months, so his target return date of late June or early July would mark the short end of that timeframe. Whether McCullers will realistically be available at that point in the calendar won't become clear for several more months, as he'll still have multiple checkpoints to hit in his recovery before he's a realistic option for the Houston rotation. The Astros haven't indicated when McCullers might be ready to advance to tossing bullpen sessions, which represents the next phase of his throwing program.
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