The Houston Astros’ pitching staff, already battered by injuries, faces another gut punch as key veteran Lance McCullers Jr. joins the injured list. This unexpected turn has forced a roster scramble, thrusting a young, $760,000 rookie into the spotlight as the team prepares to face the A’s.
Lance McCullers’ Injury Deals Blow To The Astros Lineup, Forcing Rookie To Take The Stage
McCullers Jr. has been the anchor of Houston’s pitching staff for a while now. His sudden trip to the 15-day injured list thanks to a right foot sprain has hit the team like a truck. As announced by Astros field reporter Julia Morales on X, his absence will be filled by rookie Ryan Gusto.
Astros have placed Lance McCullers Jr. on the 15-day IL with a right foot sprain (retro to June 13). RHP Jason Alexander has been recalled.
Ryan Gusto will start tonight vs the A’s.
— Julia Morales (@JuliaMorales) June 16, 2025
The injury, described as a “freak accident” in the weight room, sidelined McCullers just before his scheduled start against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. McCullers, who returned in May after a 915-day absence due to right flexor tendon surgery, had posted a 4.91 ERA across seven starts, going 1-2.
His latest outing, a 4-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox, saw him allow four hits and four runs while striking out six over five innings. The Astros’ rotation is now critically thin. McCullers joins Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski, both out for the season after Tommy John surgery, and Spencer Arrighetti, sidelined since April with a broken thumb from a batting practice mishap.
Luis Garcia and Cristian Javier, also recovering from Tommy John surgery, remain unavailable. Manager Joe Espada called the foot sprain a minor setback, expressing hope that McCullers will return after the minimum 15 days, but the timing couldn’t be worse for a team battling to maintain its AL West lead.
With McCullers out, Ryan Gusto gets a chance to prove himself. Originally slated for Tuesday’s start, Gusto was moved up to Monday’s series opener against the A’s. The 24-year-old, earning a $760,000 salary, has shown promise but will be under a lot of pressure playing for a rotation in crisis.
His call to the mound comes as Houston juggles a six-man rotation during a grueling 13-game stretch. Gusto’s ability to eat innings will play a big role in the match, especially with the Astros’ bullpen already taxed.
To fill McCullers’ roster spot, the Astros recalled journeyman Jason Alexander from Triple-A Sugar Land. Alexander, who last pitched Wednesday, allowed one earned run over 4 2/3 innings for the Space Cowboys. With Tuesday’s starter listed as “TBD,” Alexander could be tapped for a spot start or multi-inning relief.