MARCH 5, 2021 • MLB.COM
McCullers on debut: 'I couldn't be happier' Saying that he feels as good as he has in years, Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. breezed through one inning, throwing 12 pitches, in...
Astros pitcher Framber Valdéz breaks finger in spring debut
Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdéz has a fractured left ring finger, an injury that could deal another blow to the team’s banged-up starting rotationMARCH 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Have the Astros found their next ace? The Astros lost Charlie Morton and Dallas Keuchel to free agency after 2018, and Gerrit Cole left Houston after ’19. Zack Greinke, Lance McC...
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 • MLB.COM
James Karinchak learned his curveball grip by Googling video of Lance McCullers Jr from 2017 Karinchak said he watched video of McCullers throwing 24 straight curveballs to beat the Yankees in the 2017 playoffs.
FEBRUARY 22, 2021 • CLEVELAND.COM
AL West teams at the start of spring training
A team-by-team look at the American League West entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catcher...FEBRUARY 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Astros reach deals with McCullers, Díaz; not Correa
The Houston Astros have agreed to one-year contracts with right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. and infielder Aledmys Díaz to avoid salary arbitration, but couldn’t come to terms with s...JANUARY 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Avoids arbitration with Astros McCullers signed a one-year, $6.5 million deal with Houston on Friday to avoid arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact The 27-year-old returned from a lost 2019 campaign to post a 3.93 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 56:20 K:BB over 55 innings and he's now under contract for his final season of arbitration eligibility. McCullers should be a staple of Houston's starting rotation again in 2021.
JANUARY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Astros offer contracts to Correa, Díaz, McCullers HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros offered contracts to arbitration-eligible shortstop Carlos Correa, infielder Aledmys Díaz and right-hander...
DECEMBER 3, 2020 • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM
Astros offer contracts to Correa, Díaz, McCullers
The Houston Astros have offered contracts to arbitration-eligible shortstop Carlos Correa, infielder Aledmys Díaz and right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. The Astros, who made the play...DECEMBER 3, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Knocked out early in Game 7 loss McCullers took the loss in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Rays on Saturday, lasting just 3.2 innings while giving up three runs on four hits, including two homers. He struck out se...
Impact McCullers' strikeout numbers were good, but that's just about the only positive thing that can be said for his disappointing outing. The Rays jumped on him early, with Randy Arozarena hitting a two-run homer in the first inning and Mike Zunino adding a solo shot in the second. McCullers will end the postseason with a 4.91 ERA in 14.2 innings despite an excellent 23:2 K:BB, as he was undone by a 50.0 percent HR/FB rate, allowing seven total homers.
OCTOBER 18, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Say goodnight to the bad guys: Astros fall short in Game 7
The Houston Astros spent this odyssey of a season as baseball’s biggest villainsOCTOBER 18, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arozarena, Rays top Astros 4-2 in Game 7, reach World Series
Remarkable rookie Randy Arozarena hit a two-run homer to set a postseason record, 36-year-old Charlie Morton was brilliant against his former team and the Tampa Bay Rays reached th...OCTOBER 18, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tampa Bay faces Houston in decisive Game 7 of ALCS
The will take a 3-3 series lead into Game 7 of the ALCSOCTOBER 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
LEADING OFF: Astros-Rays go to Game 7, LA trails Braves 3-2
The Astros are channeling the 2004 Red Sox, hoping to “cowboy up” for a stunning comeback that could send them to the World Series in Arlington, TexasOCTOBER 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fading Rays: Tampa Bay on brink of ALCS collapse vs Astros
The Tampa Bay Rays are on the brink of an extremely regrettable bit of baseball history with three consecutive losses in the AL Championship SeriesOCTOBER 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Springer, Valdéz help Astros top Rays 7-4, force ALCS Game 7
George Springer and José Altuve delivered big hits, Framber Valdéz pitched six brilliant innings and the Houston Astros beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the third straight day, 7-4, to...OCTOBER 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
This Date in Baseball
This Date in Baseball for Oct. 21, 2020OCTOBER 14, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Strikes out 11 in loss McCullers struck out 11 batters while walking none and allowing just four hits in seven innings in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Rays on Monday, but he also gave up four runs (one...
Impact McCullers allowed a three-run homer to Manuel Margot in the bottom of the first inning after a two-out error from Jose Altuve extended the frame, which would wind up being all the runs the Rays would need in their 4-2 win. He was quite good the rest of the way, allowing just two baserunners, though one of them was a solo homer by Mike Zunino. While it didn't wind up being enough, it was still a strong outing for the righty, who now owns a career 2.93 ERA in 43 playoff innings.
OCTOBER 13, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Astros can't 'come through' for Lance (11 K's) In Games 1 and 2 of the American League Championship Series, the Astros received outstanding performances from their starting pitchers, but...
OCTOBER 13, 2020 • MLB.COM
Altuve's 2 early throwing errors doom Astros in ALCS Game 2
The Houston Astros are finding it tough to summon their usual postseason proficiency so far in the AL Championship SeriesOCTOBER 12, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Margot's homer, catch highlight Rays' 4-2 win over Astros
Manuel Margot hit a three-run home run after a crucial Houston error and made a spectacular catch in right field in his former home ballpark, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Astros...OCTOBER 12, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
McCullers Jr. scheduled to start for Astros against Rays
Charlie Morton and the Rays will take a 1-0 series lead into Game 2 of the ALCSOCTOBER 12, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arozarena homers again, Rays beat Astros 2-1 in ALCS opener
Randy Arozarena homered again at Petco Park and Mike Zunino drove in the go-ahead run for the Tampa Bay Rays, who beat the Houston Astros 2-1 in the opener of the AL Championship S...OCTOBER 12, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
LEADING OFF: Fans back as Braves, Dodgers open NLCS in Texas
For the first time since spring training shut in mid-March because of the virus, fans will permitted back in the ballparkOCTOBER 12, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Notes: McCullers on G2; Astros' adjustments Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr., who will start Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Monday in San Diego, said he feels h...
OCTOBER 11, 2020 • MLB.COM
