17 HOURS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS
LANCE MCCULLERS JR.
#43 - PITCHER - HOUSTON ASTROS
3-3 W-L
1.16 WHIP
3.93 ERA
Astros sweep as Twins lose 18th straight in playoffs Carlos Correa hit a two-out, tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning for the Houston Astros, who produced another stifling pitching performance and swept Minnesota with a 3-1 vi...
Dominant effort wasted McCullers pitched four scoreless innings while allowing two hits and two walks Friday against the Rangers. He struck out nine and did not factor into the decision.
Impact The Astros stated before McCullers took the mound Saturday that he'd be on a pitch count heading into the postseason and they held true to their word. McCullers looked very confident and had all his pitches working effectively as he fanned a season-high nine batters using a combination of the cutter, sinker and knuckle-curve. The 26-year-old finishes the 2020 regular season with a 3.93 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 56:20 K:BB across 55 innings as he'll hope to replicate Saturday's dominant outing in the playoffs.
4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Five-run 7th inning powers Rangers past Astros 6-1 Jeff Mathis hit a three-run home run and Leody Taveras followed with a solo blast in a five-run seventh inning as the Texas Rangers beat the Houston Astros 6-1
4 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS
LeMahieu, Voit near milestones for Yankees in win over Miami
4 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS
On pitch count McCullers won't throw more than four or five innings Saturday against Texas, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.
Impact The Astros had previously indicated that McCullers' start Saturday would be skipped in preparation for the playoffs, as they're locked into the sixth seed. Instead, they decided that making a short start would be the best way for him to prepare. He'll be lined up to start Game 3 of the first round.
4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Listed as starter McCullers is listed as the starting pitcher for Saturday's game against the Rangers despite previous indications that he wouldn't be starting, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicl...
Impact The Astros are locked into the sixth seed regardless of how their final two games play out, so there isn't much upside to wasting some of McCullers' bullets here. Previous reports indicated the team would go with a bullpen game. It's possible McCullers will make just a brief appearance as a tuneup before turning things over to the pen, though the Astros haven't been specific about their intentions.
4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Not expected to start Saturday McCullers is not expected to start Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact McCullers was lined up to pitch Saturday, but manager Dusty Baker told McTaggart that McCullers would start only if Houston hadn't clinched a postseason berth. As it turned out, the Astros clinched when the Dodgers beat the Angels late Friday night. McCullers could still get some innings this weekend, but it's Chase De Jong who is expected to start Saturday.
5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Astros, streaking Springer set for matchup against Rangers Houston's Springer puts 11-game hit streak on the line against Rangers
5 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Division out of reach after tough loss One strike away from completing what would have been his second consecutive terrific outing, Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. was left to...
SEPTEMBER 22 • MLB.COM
Gets no help from defense McCullers (3-3) allowed four unearned runs on three hits and two walks and struck out seven over 6.2 innings in a loss to the Mariners on Monday.
Impact McCullers carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing a double to Tim Lopes. That was a sign of things to come, and after an error by Jose Altuve in the seventh, McCullers allowed a three-run homer to Evan White. Despite a little bad luck, it was a decent outing for the 26-year-old righty. McCullers has a 4.24 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 51 innings this year. He lines up for one more regular-season start Saturday versus the Rangers.
SEPTEMBER 22 • ROTOWIRE
Gonzales shuts down Astros as Mariners roll to 6-1 victory Marco Gonzales threw eight shutout innings, Evan White broke open a tight game with a three-run homer in the seventh and the Seattle Mariners beat the Houston Astros 6-1 on Monday...
SEPTEMBER 22 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mariners beat Astros 6-1, help Athletics claim AL West title
SEPTEMBER 21 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gonzales scheduled to start as Seattle hosts Houston The Astros will start Lance McCullers Jr. on Monday while the Mariners are expected to counter with Marco Gonzales
SEPTEMBER 21 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Springer hits inside-the-park HR, Astros top D-backs 3-2 George Springer homered twice, including an inside-the-park shot, to lead the Houston Astros over the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 on Sunday
SEPTEMBER 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Astros host Rangers, aim to build on McCullers Jr.'s strong performance Houston looks to follow up a dominant outing by Wednesday starter Lance McCullers
SEPTEMBER 17 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Whiffs eight in no-decision McCullers took a no-decision during Wednesday's loss despite holding the Rangers scoreless across seven innings. He struck out eight while giving up two hits.
Impact For the second time this season, McCullers blanked his opponent through seven innings. The 26-year-old fired a season-high eight strikeouts and left a scoreless game. Unfortunately, the pitchers' duel landed in favor of the Rangers, who enjoyed a complete-game shutout from Kyle Gibson. McCullers, who was activated from the injured list ahead of Wednesday's contest, underwent a procedure Sept. 8 that helped manage his neck pain. Across nine starts this year, the 26-year-old owns a 4.87 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. He'll take the mound next Monday at Seattle.
SEPTEMBER 16 • ROTOWIRE
Gibson throws 4-hitter as Rangers edge Astros 1-0 Kyle Gibson threw a four-hitter and Joey Gallo hit a ground-rule RBI double with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the Texas Rangers over the Houston Astros 1-0 on Wednesday nig...
SEPTEMBER 16 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lands on IL with neck issue McCullers was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with neck nerve irritation, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact Something seemed amiss after McCullers was lifted after 18 pitches Friday. McCullers said he had trouble warming up, but the Astros said initially that it was just a "dead arm" phase and that they still expected McCullers to take the ball Wednesday against Oakland. That won't happen after all, and it's uncertain if he'll be back after the minimum. It's tough to justify holding McCullers in fantasy leagues given his performance this season and the uncertainty surrounding a potential return.
SEPTEMBER 6 • ROTOWIRE
Hard time during warmup McCullers labored during his pre-game warmups Friday leading to his shortest start of the season, David Barron of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact Houston pitching coach Brent Strom said McCullers was unable to get his velocity up before departing Friday's game after 18 pitches. The right-hander, who is coming back from Tommy John elbow surgery, talked with other pitchers who underwent the procedure. They reassured him that "these things come and they pop up and your body adjusts and then they're gone and you don't have to worry about them anymore." The Astros are treating this as a "dead arm" phase and expect McCullers to pitch next Wednesday against Oakland. Given Friday's low pitch count, McCullers could have his next outing pushed up a day, which means could be available to pitch in Tuesday's doubleheader.
SEPTEMBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Implodes in no-decision McCullers took a no-decision during Friday's loss to the Angels, surrendering three runs on two hits and three walks without recording an out.
Impact McCullers's night was over before it even began. The 26-year-old failed to retire a batter, giving up a single, a two-run home run to Mike Trout, then three consecutive walks before getting replaced with Luis Garcia. Overall, McCullers threw just 5-of-18 pitches for strikes in the disastrous outing. The right-hander holds a 5.79 ERA and 1.42 WHIP on the season. He'll look to bounce back Wednesday at Oakland.
SEPTEMBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Trout ties Angels' HR record, then scores winning run Mike Trout tied the Angels’ record for career home runs in the first inning and scored the winning run in the 11th as Los Angeles beat the Houston Astros 6-5
SEPTEMBER 5 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Trout ties Salmon's Angels career HR record with No. 299 Mike Trout tied Tim Salmon’s career home run record for the Angels, connecting for No. 299
SEPTEMBER 4 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Orioles end 19-game losing streak against Yankees
SEPTEMBER 4 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Angels play the Astros following Heaney's strong performance Los Angeles looks to follow up a dominant outing by Thursday starter Andrew Heaney
SEPTEMBER 4 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Díaz, Brantley 3 RBIs each, Astros beat Lynn, Rangers 8-4 Aledmys Díaz hit a three-run homer and Michael Brantley added three RBIs, leading Zack Greinke and the Houston Astros to an 8-4 win over the Texas Rangers
SEPTEMBER 3 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
