Lance McCullers Jr.’s return to the Astros rotation has not gone as hoped since coming back from the injured list in June. Despite a brief period of improvement, McCullers struggled once again in his latest outing against the Texas Rangers, raising concerns about his performance. In this game, McCullers issued two walks but struggled with his efficiency, needing 83 pitches to get through just three innings. Ultimately, he allowed five earned runs, continuing a troubling trend that has seen him walk a total of 12 hitters over his last three starts.
While McCullers has exhibited diminished velocity and control, the Astros are committed to giving him the opportunity to regain form on the mound. The team’s pitching staff did show promise after his exit, with Ryan Gusto yielding two runs in 4 1/3 innings and both Steven Okert and Kaleb Ort combining for 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Unfortunately, the team’s offensive output fell short on this night.
Top prospect Brice Matthews made his Major League debut but had a rough start, with three strikeouts in four at-bats. The Astros’ only significant offensive highlight came from Victor Caratini, who hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning. However, it wasn’t enough to turn the tide against a solid performance from Rangers’ pitcher Jack Leiter and the Texas bullpen.
With this loss, the Astros find themselves on a four-game losing streak for the first time this season. They will seek to bounce back in Game 2 of the series against the Rangers, with Framber Valdez set to pitch against Jacob deGrom. Fans can look forward to a match-up featuring two exceptional pitchers, which should provide an exciting atmosphere.
As the Astros aim to turn their fortunes around, there remains hope that McCullers can find his rhythm again, and with the talent in their line-up, they can rebound from this tough stretch.