Oft-injured Houston Astros Hurler prepares for his first pitch off the mound

The Houston Astros have experienced a revolving door in their starting rotation due to injuries. But they hope there are two pitchers who will be worth the wait.

One of them is Lance McCullers Jr. On Tuesday, Will Kunkel of Fox 26 in Houston reported that he would throw 10 to 12 pitches during a bullpen session. It should be noted that this will be a full-length bullpen.

This would be the first time McCullers has done something like this since last year.

The 30-year-old right-hander from Tampa, Fla., did not pitch in a game last year after suffering a muscle strain in his right arm during spring training. The Astros shut him down, but the injury never healed due to a bone spur.

Last June, he underwent surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right arm and remove the spur.

This isn’t the first time McCullers has missed extended time with an arm injury. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 and missed all of 2019 after tearing the UCL in his right elbow. He suffered a right forearm injury in Game 4 of the American League Division Series and missed the remainder of the playoffs. That injury, a strained right flexor tendon, kept him from returning to the mound until August.

Along the way, Houston signed him to a five-year, $85 million extension in 2021, which turned out to be his best season, as he went 13-5 with an ERA of 3.16 in 28 starts.

McCullers has a lifetime record of 49-32 with a 3.48 ERA.

Luis Garcia is the other pitcher the Astros hope can help them in their rotation later this season. He is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is a little further along in his recovery.

Houston hopes McCullers and Garcia can rejoin the team in the second half of the season.