The Houston Astros have been hit hard by injuries in their pitching rotation, and the situation worsened as they placed Lance McCullers Jr. on the injured list due to a right foot sprain. This latest setback comes just as McCullers was set to start in the series opener against the Oakland Athletics at Sutter Health Park.
In McCullers’ absence, rookie Ryan Gusto will take the mound. Initially, Gusto was lined up to pitch the following game on Tuesday in West Sacramento, but now the starter for that matchup has yet to be determined. The Astros also called up Jason Alexander from Triple-A Sugar Land to fill McCullers’ spot on the active roster. Alexander had a solid outing recently, allowing one earned run over 4 2/3 innings in his last start.
This season, McCullers is the fourth starter for the Astros to be placed on the injured list, a troubling trend for the team. Fellow pitchers Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski have already been ruled out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. McCullers himself began the season on the injured list, marking his return in May after a lengthy 915-day recovery from right flexor tendon surgery. Despite the challenges, he managed to post a 4.19 ERA across his first seven starts back.
The Astros continue to face adversity, yet there is hope that the younger pitchers like Gusto and Alexander will step up to the challenge and help the team navigate through this tough stretch. Injuries can create openings for emerging talent, and fans will be watching closely as these young players take on significant roles in the rotation.