Overview
- McCullers, scratched before Tuesday's game in Minnesota, was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation retroactive to May 16.
- He was sent back to Houston for evaluation after soreness lingered, and manager Joe Espada said he had been pitching through shoulder pain for a while.
- Houston recalled right-hander Jason Alexander to start in McCullers’ place, and he threw six shutout innings in a 2-1 win that lifted the Astros to 20-30.
- The rotation remains thin, with Cristian Javier and Hunter Brown also on the IL with Grade 2 shoulder strains, and Alexander became the 13th Houston pitcher to start this season.
- Injuries have defined McCullers’ recent years, including Tommy John surgery in 2018 and a 2023 flexor tendon repair, and he posted a 6.86 ERA over eight starts in 2026 before the IL move.