Houston Astros Suffer Another Blow to Rotation Hopes

The Houston Astros have suffered another setback when it comes to getting their pitching rotation healthy.

Kade Kistner | May 29, 2023

Houston Astros Suffer Another Blow to Rotation Hopes /

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Houston Astros

The Houston Astros can't seem to catch a break when it comes to their pitching injury woes.

On Monday, Astros manager Dusty Baker informed the media that starter Lance McCullers Jr. had suffered a setback in his bid to return to the mound.

McCullers is now no longer throwing off of a mound and will be moved back to flat ground.

"We have to take it slow with Lance until we know that he's 100-percent. That's where it is right now," said Baker.

It's not great news as Houston was hoping to have McCullers back by the MLB All-Star break in July. Whether or not this setback will affect that timeline is unclear. But as it goes with all things McCullers related, one has to imagine this will affect how quickly he returns.

Luckily, the Astros have been able to find success with J.P. France who has stepped in after Jose Urquidy and Luis Garcia went down with injury this season as well.

Getting McCullers back would help solidify the rotation as Houston sits just two games out of the American League West race and are pushing for another World Series title bid.

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Published May 29, 2023

KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.