CHICAGO -- Making his first start since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series against in Philadelphia, Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. threw 87 pitches in 3 2/3 scoreless innings in Sunday’s 5-4, rain-shortened loss in the series finale against the White Sox at Rate Field. The game was called after a 1-hour, 20-minute delay after 6 1/2 innings.
McCullers walked three hitters and struck out four batters, while facing the White Sox lineup twice. He threw five different pitches, relying mostly on his changeup (28 pitches) and sinker (25), while mixing in his slider (17) and curve (16). He topped out at 93.8 mph.
He pitched around two singles in the first inning and escaped after issuing two walks and hitting a batter (all with two outs) in the second. After a 1-2-3 third inning, he gave up a leadoff double to Andrew Vaughn in the fourth and a two-out walk to Joshua Palacios. Tayler Scott relieved him and got the final out in the fourth.
McCullers, who underwent surgery in June 2023 to repair a flexor tendon and suffered a setback last season, returned to throw in a game during Grapefruit League play and pitched four rehab starts in the Minor Leagues -- two in Triple-A and two in Double-A.
McCullers missed the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, injured his flexor tendon in Game 4 of the ‘21 AL Division Series against the White Sox in Chicago and spent most of the next season rehabbing. He returned to throw at the end of ‘22, but hadn’t thrown in a meaningful game since giving up five homers in Game 3 of the 2022 Fall Classic.