Lance McCullers Jr., a starting pitcher for the Houston Astros, is returning from injury and will join the rotation right away.
Lance McCullers Jr., a starting pitcher for the Houston Astros, is returning, and he’s not wasting any time.
Despite being sidelined since October of 2021 due to a torn flexor tendon, he will start on Saturday against the Oakland Athletics.
There is no denying McCullers’ skill. He had an ERA of 3.16, a batting average against of.205, and a WHIP of 1.22 through 2021. The Astros are currently leading the AL West standings and are much above.500. They have a number of strong pitchers overall.
He achieved outcomes that qualified him for a Cy Young Award. He has, however, been absent for almost a year. His premature introduction to the starting lineup could compromise the team’s performance.
The Astros could suffer if Lance McCullers Jr. is inserted into the starting rotation too soon
The Astros shouldn’t be so quick to modify their approach because whatever it is that they have been employing this season is working well for them. Although McCullers has a lot of potential, his success is uncertain given a serious injury and a year-long lack of playing time.
The roster in Houston doesn’t require immediate improvement. They presently have the second-highest ERA (2.99), greatest opponent batting average (.210), and second-best WHIP in the whole league (1.09).
According to Baseball-estimations, Reference’s McCullers has a 3.57 ERA (116 ERA+), a 2.74 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 9.7 Wins Above Replacement throughout the course of his career, as reported by CBS Sports.
He should unquestionably be taken into account for the starting lineup, but Houston’s success could suffer if they insert him too quickly.
