Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. activated off IL, set to start against Cubs
HOUSTON (AP) — Right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. is set to start for the Houston Astros on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs after the team activated him from the 15-day injured list.
McCullers was placed on the injured list June 13.
After missing two full seasons because of a right flexor tendon surgery, McCullers is 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA in seven starts this season, but he compiled a 3.20 ERA in his last five starts with 35 strikeouts over 25 1/3 innings.
McCullers' return is welcome news for an Astros rotation that has lost Hayden Wesneski and Ronel Blanco for the rest of the season because of surgery and has been without Spencer Arrighetti since April after he suffered a broken right thumb during a batting practice accident.
Houston is also without right-handers Luis Garcia and Cristian Javier, who are still recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Despite being short-handed, the Astros entered Saturday with a 6 1/2-game lead in the American League West. Their 3.41 team ERA is tied for fourth best in the majors.
The Astros optioned right-hander Nick Hernandez to make room on the roster for McCullers.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ex-Yankees second baseman leads All-Star race while team hunts for infield upgrade
Ex-Yankees second baseman leads All-Star race while team hunts for infield upgrade originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Once overlooked and written off in the Bronx, Gleyber Torres is now dominating the AL at second base, while the New York Yankees are looking for infield help at the trade deadline. Advertisement Torres leads the American League with 1,133,888 votes in All-Star Phase 1, topping Baltimore's Jackson Holliday (806,133) and Houston's José Altuve (795,123) A starter nod would make him Detroit's only fan-elected second baseman since Placido Polanco in 2007 (Lou Whitaker was the last in the '80s) Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber TorresDavid Reginek-Imagn Images Torres and the Yankees had a less-than-friendly split. He's cleared out his old Yankees social media content. He snapped back at GM Brian Cashman's comments on social media and liked posts that suggested he was unwanted in the Bronx. This spring, Torres said, 'I feel I deserve to be with an organization that wants me. Then when asked if he felt unwanted in New York, Torres added with a hint of snark, 'I don't know. Maybe go ask him,' referring to Cashman. Advertisement After Cashman revealed Torres refused to switch to third base when the team brought in Jazz Chisholm Jr., Torres took to social media to tell the Yankees GM to 'turn the page.' Heck, even when Torres was wearing pinstripes, Cashman was taking shots at him. Now, cloaked in a calmer atmosphere, Torres is playing with freedom and fire. He's hitting around .278 with seven home runs and the glove-first polish that made him a two-time All-Star by 24. Meanwhile, Detroit is getting a blast from a player they actually want. With voting ending Thursday at noon ET and finalists revealed that night, he's poised to secure his first All-Star start with Detroit—and perhaps the sweetest one yet. Advertisement Related: MLB Announces Yankees Star in Danger of Losing All-Star Starting Spot Related: Veteran Went from 'Trash' to 'Treasure' After Leaving Yankees Former Teammate Says This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tigers Activate Versatile Veteran and Demote Slumping Young Infielder
Tigers Activate Versatile Veteran and Demote Slumping Young Infielder originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Tigers reinstated Matt Vierling from the injured list Saturday, a move that gives manager A.J. Hinch added versatility and experience as Detroit keeps pace in the American League Central. Advertisement Vierling had been sidelined since spring training with right shoulder inflammation. Now healthy, he's back in the mix as a flexible defender and right-handed bat. He started in center field Saturday against the Twins but is expected to move around—he's capable at all three outfield spots and has worked to become a viable option at third base. The Tigers will likely use him in a little bit of everything once he's fully up to speed. Detroit Tigers center fielder Matt Vierling hits a single during the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Denis Poroy-Imagn Images To make room, Detroit optioned Trey Sweeney to Triple-A Toledo. Sweeney, 25, was a key contributor during the Tigers' 2024 playoff push, but this season's been tougher. In 225 plate appearances, he's hitting just .221 with a .594 OPS (69 OPS+), including five doubles, a triple, and four home runs. His playing time has dipped in recent weeks, squeezed by the steady play of Zach McKinstry and a bounce-back year from Javier Baez. Sweeney's demotion isn't a surprise, but it's a shift. He was part of the plan not long ago. Now he'll head back to Toledo to get regular at-bats and try to recalibrate. Detroit still believes in his long-term value, but they're pushing for wins now—and Vierling helps in more ways than one. Advertisement Vierling's return gives the Tigers a little more flexibility and a little more balance. They'll take that every time. Related: From Yankees Castoff to Tigers All-Star? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How a Yankees castoff became an All-Star contender for the Tigers in 2025
How a Yankees castoff became an All-Star contender for the Tigers in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Maybe the Yankees thought Gleyber Torres was finished. Turns out, he was just getting started somewhere else. Advertisement Now in Detroit, Torres is one of two finalists to start at second base for the American League in next month's All-Star Game. He's not just putting up numbers—he's thriving, and doing it with the kind of consistency that eluded him during his final years in the Bronx. Torres is hitting .280 with an .803 OPS through 73 games for the first-place Tigers. Both marks would be career highs since 2019—the last time he made the All-Star team. And the advanced metrics show it's no fluke. According to Brian Murphy, Torres owns a .520 expected slugging percentage this year, a massive jump from the .368 xSLG he posted during a frustrating 2024 with New York. Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres.© Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images He's also heating up at just the right time. Torres extended his hit streak to four games Thursday with a two-run homer in a win over the A's, raising his season totals to eight home runs and 40 RBIs. He's helped Detroit stake out an early lead in the AL standings—and he might just earn a fan-elected starting job at second base for his efforts. Advertisement He's up against Orioles rookie Jackson Holliday, who has solid numbers but not the same impact. Holliday has nine home runs and a .721 OPS—good, but not Torres good. Voting resumes Monday, June 30, and runs through noon ET on July 2. There's still time for fans to make a statement. The Yankees once built around Gleyber Torres. Then they let him walk. The Tigers gave him a second chance—and now, he might just be an All-Star again. Want a headline package built around this one? We can lean into redemption, revenge, or 'Yankees gave up too soon' energy. Related: Veteran Went from 'Trash' to 'Treasure' After Leaving Yankees Former Teammate Says Related: The One Offseason Conversation That Saved Javier Baez's Career This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
