Astros scratch Lance McCullers Jr., place starting pitcher on 15-day IL due to right shoulder inflammation

The Houston Astros entered Tuesday with a 19-30 record and the worst ERA (5.45) in MLB. Their injury-riddled pitching staff took another hit hours before first pitch when they scratched starter Lance McCullers Jr. ahead of a road matchup versus the Minnesota Twins.

Houston placed McCullers on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, retroactively to May 16. Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters the righty’s been pitching through shoulder pain “for a while.”

Advertisement

“He’s been recovering well, kind of your normal, typical post-start soreness,” Espada said pregame, per The Athletic. “But, this week, he wasn’t able to get rid of it. We decided to get him seen by our doctors.”

McCullers is the latest member of Houston’s season-opening starting rotation to be bitten by the injury bug. He’ll join both Cristian Javier and Hunter Brown on the IL, where those two are healing up from Grade 2 shoulder strains.

Another right-handed pitcher, Jason Alexander, took McCullers’ place on the mound Tuesday. The Astros recalled Alexander from Triple-A Sugar Land earlier this week.

Not only did the 32-year-old McCullers land on the IL, but the Astros also sent him back to Houston for further evaluation and treatment.

Advertisement

That said, the Astros did reinstate outfielder Jake Meyers and right-handed reliever Nate Pearson from the IL, optioning Shay Whitcomb to Triple-A Sugar Land in the process.

As for McCullers, injuries have plagued the one-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion throughout his Astros tenure. He’s missed three full seasons because of them.

McCullers had Tommy John surgery in 2018. In 2023, he needed flexor tendon repair. Now he’s in the final season of a five-year extension reportedly worth $85 million.

He’s made eight starts and registered a 6.86 ERA during the Astros’ frustrating 2026 campaign. Last year, over 13 starts, his ERA ballooned to 6.51, by far his highest since 2017 when he clocked out with a 4.25.

Advertisement

On May 6, McCullers exited a start against the Los Angeles Dodgers early, telling reporters postgame that a portion of the fingernail on his right index finger “popped off” during the third inning.

McCullers bounced back to throw 5 1/3 innings during a 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on May 13. But less than a week later, he’s on the IL with right shoulder inflammation.