McCullers on recovery, return: 'Felt healthy for quite a bit now and just had to do the proper buildup'

Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers, Jr. will return to the mound for the first time since last year’s postseason on Saturday, according to a report on the team’s website.

The team said that the 28-year-old right-hander is the starter in the second game against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park.

“He’s baaaaack,” the Astros tweeted. 

A forearm injury sustained during the 2021 American League Division Series (ALDS) against the Chicago White Sox kept McCullers from participating in the rest of the Astros’ World Series run, as well as sidelined him for nearly much of the current campaign.

Having compiled a 13-5 record with a 3.16 ERA during the 2021 regular season, he has worked on his arm since earlier this year and is fresh from a rehabilitation stint with Triple-A Sugar Land.

As of Thursday, the Astros boast the AL’s best rotation with a starters’ earned run average (ERA) of 3.18, the report said.

According to the report, McCullers said that his nearly yearlong recovery from his right flexor pronator strain tasked him mentally.

“I know I had a long road ahead of me, so I think there will be a lot of relief,” the hurler said, per the club. “I felt healthy for quite a bit now and just had to do the proper buildup.”

Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported that McCullers’ comeback increases the Astros’ rotation from five to six.

The team now has Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Luis Garcia, McCullers, Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy.

Houston traded starter Jake Odorizzi to the Atlanta Braves before the Major League Baseball (MLB) trade deadline early this month for reliever Will Smith.

McCullers, whom the Astros inked to a five-year $85 million contract extension last year after Tommy John surgery sidelined him for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, said in the team’s report that he’s ready to help in any way.

“Just step in and keep doing what this team has done so well all year, which is win ballgames and play high-quality ballgames and be a part of a team that is in position to go to another postseason,” he said.

The Astros look to clinch their penultimate series against the Texas Rangers on Thursday in a matinee matchup.

Afterward, they host Oakland for their Hall of Fame Weekend.