The comeback Astros fans thought might never happen is finally here
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30 April
Lance McCullers returns to the Astros rotation on Sunday. Composite Getty Image.
Lance McCullers Jr is to start Sunday for the Houston Astros against the Chicago White Sox in his first major league appearance since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series in Philadelphia.
“I’m really excited to have him on the mound on Sunday,” Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday. “He’s worked his tail off to get back to this point, and this whole entire team and this city should be excited to get Lance back.”
An All-Star in 2018, McCullers had surgery on June 13, 2023, to repair his right flexor tendon and to remove a bone spur. The 31-year-old right-hander threw a bullpen session last June but had a setback and was shut down for the year. He has made four minor league rehab starts this year, allowing four runs and 10 hits over 12 2/3 innings with 16 strikeouts and six walks.
In his last appearance, he struck out seven in five shutout innings for Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday.
“My last two outings I’ve felt really good, my stuff has been pretty crisp,” McCullers said.
He is 49-32 with a 3.48 ERA in seven seasons, all with Houston. McCullers first injured his flexor tendon while pitching on short rest during the 2021 AL Division Series. He missed the first four months of the 2022 season.
“Been waiting for it for a long time,” McCullers said. “Almost feel like I’m making my debut in some aspects, but it’s been a really long road for me.”
McCullers has missed three full seasons since making his major league debut in 2015.
“It would’ve been a pretty sad ending to my story,” McCullers said.
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Houston Astros right-hander Hayden Wesneski is set to undergo Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery, likely sidelining him until late in the 2026 season.
Wesneski went on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort on May 9, three days after allowing four runs over four innings in a 4-3 loss at Milwaukee. The 27-year-old was 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA.
Wesneski joined the Astros along with Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith in the offseason trade that sent Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs. He has 28 starts among 74 appearances over four big league seasons.
The Astros, who announced the diagnosis after Sunday's 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers, skipped Wesneski for a turn in their rotation before the start against the Brewers.
“In Milwaukee, I felt better,” Wesneski said. “Next day, I felt great. I was super pumped about it. Got on the airplane, landed at home in Houston and it just started swelling up. Off day only got worse.”
Wesneski said he will stay in the Dallas area for surgery, hoping to have it this week. Texas Rangers physician Dr. Keith Meister will perform the procedure.
With the Cubs last season, Wesneski spent time on the injured list with a right forearm strain. He had seven starts among 28 appearances in 2024 after getting 11 starts and 23 relief outings two years ago. All six of Wesneski's appearances this season were starts.
Looking ahead
With Wesneski officially out for the season, Lance McCullers returning to form takes on even more importance for Houston. Hopefully, McCullers, Colton Gordon, and Ryan Gusto can hold down the fort until Spencer Arreghetti returns from his fractured thumb.
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