Lance McCullers Jr. Is the Perfect Anchor for Astros’ Rotation
Monday’s 8-1 win over the Boston Red Sox had the Houston Astros feeling like it was the good old days. Jose Altuve reached base five times with four hits, two home runs, and a walk. Yordan Alvarez hit an absolute moonshot, and Carlos Correa was looking like his Gold Glove self.
After a shaky opening series against the Los Angeles Angels, the Astros started off the series against the Red Sox with a bang. What stood out the most was the long-awaited return to form from starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr . ‘Bury Me in the H’ is back McCullers has been a key piece of the Astros’ DNA since the 2017 World Series run.
He has been one of the ultimate ‘glue guys’ like Altuve and Correa during the Astros extended run. However, he missed the entirety of the 2023 and 2024 seasons with injuries. After recovering from flexor tendon surgery, he faced a shaky 2025 when he finally returned.
McCullers had a 2-4 win-loss record, starting 13 of 16 games, and posted a 6. 51 ERA in 2025. This sparked debates about whether it was time for the Astros to move on from him.
Injuries were catching up to McCullers, and decisions had to be made. The team decided to keep him going into the 2026 spring training period, and he repaid their faith. Lance McCullers Jr.