Houston Astros Starter Could Begin Season On 60-Day IL

Due to a forearm injury, Houston Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. may not be ready to start the year.

Astros general manager Dana Brown has expressed uncertainty about whether McCullers will begin the year on the 60-day injured list.

McCullers Jr. is dealing with a low-grade strain, and he is not expected to be available until May at the earliest.

The Astros will need to make two 40-man roster moves for César Salazar and Corey Julks. Putting Jose Altuve on the 60-day IL is a pretty obvious one. Asked if Lance McCullers Jr. is a 60-day IL candidate, Dana Brown said "right now, I don't know that."

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 28, 2023

If the club believes he won't be available until even later, they will likely place him on the 60-day IL to open up space.

McCullers Jr. is aiming to reach 150 innings this season, but he will need to avoid any further setbacks to his elbow in addition to other injury concerns in the months to come.

The twenty-nine-year-old has compiled a strong 3.16 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, with 291 strikeouts across 265 innings and 47 starts over the last three seasons. Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports