*Photo from Chron*
One member of the champs pitching staff is out of action. Houston Astros RHP Lance McCullers Jr will start the 2023 season on the IL following a right elbow muscle strain, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. McCullers confirmed the news.
McCullers Jr said of the injury that "I had a great offseason and was excited for the year. I felt like I was in an amazing spot physically and got to camp early. I threw a bullpen here last Tuesday and unfortunately, after that bullpen, nothing during the bullpen raised any red flags, but after the bullpen and into the evening and into the next day, I had some elbow soreness."
There is no structural damage or any issues regarding his UCL, so McCullers will not have to undergo Tommy John Surgery. He previously underwent Tommy John in November of 2018, which forced him out of the entire 2019 season as well.
In addition to the Tommy John Surgery, McCullers missed the majority of the 2022 season with a right flexor pronator strain, but he returned to make 8 starts in the regular season and 3 starts in the Astros World Series run.
McCullers Jr said that "I’ve been a little bit upset. I was really looking forward to a great start to the camp and great start to the season. Any time this happens, it’s very frustrating for me and the team and the fanbase. I just wanted to have a great year and get off to a great start and unfortunately that didn’t happen."
With the injury to McCullers Jr and Justin Verlander departing in free agency, the Astros rotation now consists of Framber Valdez, Jose Urquidy, Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, and likely rookie Hunter Brown, with Forrest Whitley building his way back from a series of injuries.
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