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
recommended
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Wizards re-sign forward Anthony Gill
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Wizards re-signed forward Anthony Gill on Thursday. The team did not announce terms of the deal. Gill has started 15 games in five seasons in Washington. He averaged 2.5 points last season. Gill has twice received the Wizards' E.B. Henderson Team Award for work in the community, and he's also been a finalist for the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. ___
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Simone Biles' husband, Jonathan Owens, gets into skirmish in wild Bears training camp scene
The Bears had a chippy practice on Tuesday — and Jonathan Owens was one of the top aggressors. Owens, the husband of seven-time Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles, was involved in one of four skirmishes at Chicago's training camp session Tuesday — and it was perhaps the most fierce of them all. The Bears were in full pads for the session and were running many goal-line sets, which brought out some major physicality. Advertisement According to multiple reporters who were at the practice, Owens made a tackle on running back Roschon Johnson with a 'peanut punch,' which Johnson took exception to. 4 Bears safety Jonathan Owens celebrated a fumble recovery in the first half against the Packers on Jan. 5, 2025. AP 4 Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens on the ESPYS red carpet. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Advertisement The running back then reportedly threw the ball at Owens and tossed him to the turf. From there, the two teammates then continued scrapping on the ground. 4 Roschon Johnson scuffled with Owens at Bears training camp. AP While there weren't any reports about the aftermath for Owens, Johnson was spotted running up and down the sideline after the scuffle. Advertisement Owens is entering his second season with the Bears after spending his first four in the NFL with the Texans and his fifth with the Packers. The safety has been a depth piece for most of his career, but has become largely a household name after tying the knot with Biles in April 2023. 4 Jonathan Owens of the Chicago Bears and Simone Biles greet each other before the game against the New England Patriots at Soldier Field on November 10, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images Owens appeared in 17 games for Chicago last season but started in just five. He did, however, start 28 of 34 games across both his final year in Houston and his lone campaign in Green Bay. Advertisement The 30-year-old was just a piece of the puzzle in Tuesday's crazy practice scene. Wide receiver Rome Odunze had his helmet ripped off by a defender and wide receiver Tyler Scott 'delivered a big block' safety on Jaquan Brisker before the two had to be separated. In the trenches, left tackle Braxton Jones and defensive end Austin Booker went at it before defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. stepped in and pushed Jones to the ground.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Wizards re-sign forward Anthony Gill
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Wizards re-signed forward Anthony Gill on Thursday. The team did not announce terms of the deal. Gill has started 15 games in five seasons in Washington. He averaged 2.5 points last season. Gill has twice received the Wizards' E.B. Henderson Team Award for work in the community, and he's also been a finalist for the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. ___ AP NBA:
