OCTOBER 11, 2020 • MLB.COM
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...
Valdez, McCullers to start Gms 1, 2 for Astros The Astros will start lefty Framber Valdez in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series on Sunday and righty Lance McCullers Jr. in Game 2 on Mon...
OCTOBER 10, 2020 • MLB.COM
Valdez, McCullers to start Gms 1, 2 for Astros The Astros will start lefty Framber Valdez in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series on Sunday and righty Lance McCullers Jr. in Game 2 on Mon...
OCTOBER 10, 2020 • MLB.COM
LEADING OFF: Rays thwart Yankees, seek revenge vs Astros
The Tampa Bay Rays have more revenge in mind heading to the AL Championship SeriesOCTOBER 10, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
LEADING OFF: Rays thwart Yankees, seek revenge vs Astros
The Tampa Bay Rays have more revenge in mind heading to the AL Championship SeriesOCTOBER 10, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Unimpressive in series opener McCullers lasted just four innings in Game 1 of the ALDS against Oakland on Monday, giving up five runs (four earned) on nine hits and a walk while striking out five.
Impact McCullers was done in by the long ball; he gave a two-run shot to Khris Davis in the second followed by solo homers to Sean Murphy and Matt Olson over the next two innings. He was pulled from the game after allowing the leadoff runner in the bottom of the fifth to reach base, who would eventually come around to score to add a fifth run to McCullers' tally. While the Astros' offense would eventually bail him out, it certainly wasn't the outing McCullers hoped to have in his first postseason start since 2017.
OCTOBER 6, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Houston's young bullpen quickly maturing during postseason
Without the likes of Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, the Houston Astros need someone on staff to step up this OctoberOCTOBER 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Correa, Springer rally Astros past A's 10-5 in ALDS opener
Carlos Correa homered twice and drove in four, Jose Altuve hit a go-ahead, two-run single during Houston’s four-run sixth inning and the Astros rallied to beat the Oakland Athletic...OCTOBER 5, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bassitt scheduled to start for Oakland against Houston
Oakland will host Houston in Game 1 of the ALDSOCTOBER 5, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
LEADING OFF: Rays hope for Meadows return in ALDS opener
The Tampa Bay Rays may get All-Star outfielder Austin Meadows back in the lineup as they open a best-of-five series with the rival New York YankeesOCTOBER 5, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
LEADING OFF: Rays hope for Meadows return in ALDS opener
The Tampa Bay Rays may get All-Star outfielder Austin Meadows back in the lineup as they open a best-of-five series with the rival New York YankeesOCTOBER 5, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Astros out to 'silence the haters' in ALDS against Athletics
The Houston Astros are back in Los Angeles to play the AL Division Series against the Oakland AthleticsOCTOBER 5, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
McCullers could start ALDS Game 1 or 2 Astros manager Dusty Baker didn’t say how the team’s pitching rotation would line up for the American League Division Series against the A’s...
OCTOBER 2, 2020 • MLB.COM
McCullers could start ALDS Game 1 or 2 Astros manager Dusty Baker didn’t say how the team’s pitching rotation would line up for the American League Division Series against the A’s...
OCTOBER 2, 2020 • MLB.COM
Astros sweep as Twins lose 18th straight in playoffs
Carlos Correa hit a two-out, tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning for the Houston Astros, who produced another stifling pitching performance and swept Minnesota with a 3-1 vi...SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dominant effort wasted McCullers pitched four scoreless innings while allowing two hits and two walks Friday against the Rangers. He struck out nine and did not factor into the decision.
Impact The Astros stated before McCullers took the mound Saturday that he'd be on a pitch count heading into the postseason and they held true to their word. McCullers looked very confident and had all his pitches working effectively as he fanned a season-high nine batters using a combination of the cutter, sinker and knuckle-curve. The 26-year-old finishes the 2020 regular season with a 3.93 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 56:20 K:BB across 55 innings as he'll hope to replicate Saturday's dominant outing in the playoffs.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Five-run 7th inning powers Rangers past Astros 6-1
Jeff Mathis hit a three-run home run and Leody Taveras followed with a solo blast in a five-run seventh inning as the Texas Rangers beat the Houston Astros 6-1SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
LeMahieu, Voit near milestones for Yankees in win over Miami
SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
On pitch count McCullers won't throw more than four or five innings Saturday against Texas, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.
Impact The Astros had previously indicated that McCullers' start Saturday would be skipped in preparation for the playoffs, as they're locked into the sixth seed. Instead, they decided that making a short start would be the best way for him to prepare. He'll be lined up to start Game 3 of the first round.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Listed as starter McCullers is listed as the starting pitcher for Saturday's game against the Rangers despite previous indications that he wouldn't be starting, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicl...
Impact The Astros are locked into the sixth seed regardless of how their final two games play out, so there isn't much upside to wasting some of McCullers' bullets here. Previous reports indicated the team would go with a bullpen game. It's possible McCullers will make just a brief appearance as a tuneup before turning things over to the pen, though the Astros haven't been specific about their intentions.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Not expected to start Saturday McCullers is not expected to start Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact McCullers was lined up to pitch Saturday, but manager Dusty Baker told McTaggart that McCullers would start only if Houston hadn't clinched a postseason berth. As it turned out, the Astros clinched when the Dodgers beat the Angels late Friday night. McCullers could still get some innings this weekend, but it's Chase De Jong who is expected to start Saturday.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Astros, streaking Springer set for matchup against Rangers
Houston's Springer puts 11-game hit streak on the line against RangersSEPTEMBER 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Division out of reach after tough loss One strike away from completing what would have been his second consecutive terrific outing, Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. was left to...
SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 • MLB.COM
Gets no help from defense McCullers (3-3) allowed four unearned runs on three hits and two walks and struck out seven over 6.2 innings in a loss to the Mariners on Monday.
Impact McCullers carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing a double to Tim Lopes. That was a sign of things to come, and after an error by Jose Altuve in the seventh, McCullers allowed a three-run homer to Evan White. Despite a little bad luck, it was a decent outing for the 26-year-old righty. McCullers has a 4.24 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 51 innings this year. He lines up for one more regular-season start Saturday versus the Rangers.
SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
