{"id":114888,"date":"2026-02-27T23:46:55","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T04:46:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=114888"},"modified":"2026-02-27T23:46:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T04:46:55","slug":"what-lies-ahead-astros-veteran-pitcher-lance-mccullers-jr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/02\/27\/what-lies-ahead-astros-veteran-pitcher-lance-mccullers-jr\/","title":{"rendered":"What Lies Ahead for Astros Veteran Right-Hander"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cBury me in the H.\u201d That is Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr.<\/a>\u2019s signature phrase. He said it in 2022 after a fan asked if he would ever leave the Astros.<\/p>\n

What Lies Ahead for Astros Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr.<\/h2>\n

There have been very few players who have backed and supported Houston over the past decade more than McCullers. You would think he\u2019s from Houston the way he defends the city, but the Tampa native was drafted by the Astros in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft when he was 18 years old.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 25: Lance McCullers Jr. #43 of the Houston Astros throws from the mound before a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 25, 2022 in New York City. The Astros defeated the Yankees 3-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Top Moments for McCullers Jr.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

McCullers Jr. has built a real connection with the city through his grit and determination to keep going even through adversity. He has spent most of his adult life in Houston, and it has truly become his home over the past decade since making his big league debut with the Astros back in 2015.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The two-time World Series champion in 2017 and 2022 has had his fair share of incredible moments with the club that stand out during the championship years. The 24 straight curveballs against the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS remain arguably his most iconic moment, something that will go down in Astros lore. <\/span>It seems like every season that moment is brought up once again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He started Game 7 of the 2017 World Series and played a key role in the team\u2019s first title.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

McCullers Jr., a fiery and entertaining personality, has always stood up for his teammates and has publicly shown support. After his great outing in Dodger Stadium back in 2021, he said, \u201cThat was for H-Town.\u201d His two ALDS playoff starts in 2021 with a combined 0.84 ERA took Houston over the top against the Chicago White Sox.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But now, he remains a legend of the past in some ways. It has been a few years since McCullers Jr. has really contributed to the team on the mound.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019s now 32 years old and has the feeling of a veteran MLB player who has gone through all the ups and downs. The fact is, McCullers Jr. isn\u2019t the same electric flamethrower that was the talk of the city in 2017. Nor is he likely to be the top-of-the-line starter he was in 2021.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Injury History\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

After starting Game Three in the 2022 World Series, McCullers Jr. did not pitch for the next two seasons. He went through surgery to repair his flexor tendon in June 2023 and suffered a setback in 2024. Injuries have been nothing new for him and have been an almost constant presence during his career.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

McCullers Jr. underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019 and missed that entire season, and missed most of 2022 rehabbing from his initial flexor tendon injury suffered in the 2021 ALDS.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LMJ\u2019s 2025 Season<\/h3>\n

After finally returning to the mound last May, LMJ went through a very inconsistent 2025. The return in itself was an accomplishment, but he was unable to play a significant role. He went through three different injuries<\/a> and even moved to the bullpen briefly, but ended the regular season on a high note with three innings of one-run baseball against the Los Angeles Angels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He then delivered another signature moment at Dodger Stadium on July 4, allowing just one earned run over six innings.<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound right-hander comes off his first healthy offseason in five years. It\u2019s possible that could be the difference for McCullers Jr. to turn back time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re healthy, and you\u2019re feeling good, and you\u2019re relatively crisp, you\u2019re able to work on what you need to work on, you\u2019re able to stack days and make strides to be better, and that\u2019s where I\u2019m at right now. Everything\u2019s been going well,\u201d McCullers Jr. said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He just had his first spring training start of the year on Friday evening, and looked impressive. McCullers Jr. pitched a one-two-three first inning and needed just eight pitches while he reached almost 95 mph. LMJ pitched only out of the stretch and made some mechanical changes.<\/p>\n

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Lance McCullers Jr. was pleased with his outing: “I thought it was solid. I was happy with just the way I was moving. … A quick inning. Need some more of those in life.” pic.twitter.com\/m30jOT3WtM<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n