It felt like a throwback to the early years of Houston’s golden era on Monday night at Daikin Park. The Houston Astros (3-2) beat the Boston Red Sox 8-1 in a game where the Astros looked great in every single area. The standout was starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. who looked like an ace on the mound.
Lance McCullers Jr. Turns Back the Clock in Series Opener vs Red Sox
This is McCullers Jr.’s ninth season with the Astros, and it has been a wild ride. He was among the most notable pitchers in the Astros’ 2017 World Series championship team and became a household name in Houston.
Injuries became a constant problem for LMJ, but when he was playing, there was no doubt about his talent. McCullers Jr. was the ace of the staff in 2021 and also contributed to the club’s second World Series title in 2022. Injuries to his flexor tendon kept him out for the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons. McCullers Jr. finally returned last season in May 2025 after two and a half years. It took 900 days to get back on the mound.
The Comeback
2025 was a struggle, even when he returned. After his first healthy offseason since 2021, the 32-year-old looked great in spring training with a 3.38 ERA in three starts. His velocity and pitches were on point, and he gave up three runs in eight innings. McCullers Jr. made the starting rotation as the fifth option after many did not think he’d be a real contender for it.
LMJ’s first start of the season demonstrated perfectly why he made the cut on the opening-day roster as a starter. McCullers Jr. turned back the clock and put up his best start since the 2021 season. He looked like prime LMJ at his best.
Details on Lance McCullers Jr.’s First Start
McCullers Jr. went seven innings and gave up just four hits and one earned run. He struck out nine hitters and only walked one. McCullers Jr. earned the win in his awaited season opener and blew past the expectations. He faced the minimum through six innings and got past some traffic in the seventh.
Most would not have expected McCullers Jr. to be the first starter to earn a win and go past five innings for the Astros this season.
LMJ threw 96 total pitches, and 63 were for strikes. His command was excellent. All his pitches looked crisp out of the arm, and his operation was smooth. McCullers Jr. got 17 swings and misses. His variety of six pitches, along with his curveball, was vintage.
Lance McCullers Jr.
That’s it. That’s the tweet. pic.twitter.com/6pQTQfl0iq
— Houston Astros (@astros) March 31, 2026
This is a great sign for the Astros. If McCullers Jr. can be the earlier version of himself and be a top-line starter, the depth on this rotation can be special.
Astros Golden Era Flashback
The flashback to the 2017-2021 years was on full display with Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa defending at second base and shortstop behind McCullers Jr. There were a couple of incredible defensive plays from Correa that got LMJ pumped up with his typical fiery roar.
Altuve had a perfect 4/4 night with four hits, two home runs, and a walk. It was just his third career game with four hits and two home runs. The Astros hit four home runs total on Monday night in their alternate uniforms. That included huge shots from Yordan Alvarez and Brice Matthews.
Literally love Jose Altuve. #TheNextFrontier pic.twitter.com/TL0dfnHSPS
— Houston Astros (@astros) March 31, 2026
Alvarez launched one 394 feet into the second deck, while Matthews has the longest home run in the majors with a 434-foot blast at 111 mph that landed past the gas pump in center field.
Main Photo Credits: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
