LMJ FOR THE H

Astros' Lance McCullers shows H-Town love with battle cry every Houstonian should adopt

Astros Lance McCullers
This is quickly catching on. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
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If Houston Astros star pitcher Lance McCullers, Jr. ever runs for mayor of Houston (which we heartily endorse), he won't need to hire a slick marketing team to create his campaign slogan — as the proven winner has already crafted a winning line.

The celebrated ace and overall good guy unleashed his devastating sweeping slider and struck out six New York Yankees in the Astros Sunday, October 23 win that marked a sweep and an Astros World Series berth — much to the chagrin of Yankees fans who famously (and somewhat foolishly) wanted another Astros-Yankees showdown.

Never one to back down and a passionate defender of his team and city – especially on Twitter — McCullers also scored the night’s most memorable line when interviewed after the big win — one that many locals might consider for their own tombstones.

“I only got one thing to say — and I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again,” he told TBS reporter Lauren Shehadi. “Bury me in The H.”

Truly, there are battle cries with less motivational power.

McCullers’ unforgettable declaration comes after the 29-year-old has already faced down a debilitating elbow injury that forced Tommy John surgery in 2018 and a forearm injury in 2021 during the American League Division Series that ended his playoff run. The forearm injury — later diagnosed as a right tendon flexor strain — continued to nag him this year, but the relentless McCullers persisted, even starting against the Seattle Mariners in the now historic, 18-inning 2022 ALDS win.

As frequently covered in CultureMap, McCullers has garnered a reputation for generosity for local causes since he arrived in Houston, be it handing out turkeys during Thanksgiving or spearheading homeless animal rescue and adoption through the eponymous nonprofit he runs with his wife, Kara.

Continue on CultureMap to learn more!

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The Astros will be without Spencer Arrighetti for quite a while. Composite Getty Image.

Houston right-hander Spencer Arrighetti broke his right thumb when he was hit by a line drive while playing catch in left field before Monday night's game at Seattle.

Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters Arrighetti was being evaluated during his pregame availability. The team announced the injury about an hour before its series opener against the Mariners.

The 25-year-old Arrighetti is 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA in two starts this season. He allowed five runs and three hits in 3 2/3 innings during Saturday's 6-1 loss at Minnesota.

Arrighetti, a sixth-round pick in the 2021 amateur draft, went 7-13 with a 4.53 ERA in 28 starts and one relief appearance as a rookie last year.

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