McCullers allowed three runs on five hits and a walk in a no-decision Wednesday against the A's. He struck out 12.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers delivered a season-high six innings Wednesday, throwing 102 pitches, as he continues to round into form following a two-year absence. The 31-year-old right-hander has certainly found his strikeout pitch -- he's recorded 20 punchouts across 10.1 innings in his last two starts. Overall, McCullers is 0-1 with a 5.89 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 26:11 K:BB through his first five outings (18.1 innings). McCullers is currently lined up for an enticing road matchup with the Pirates in his next start.

McCullers allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out eight over 4.1 innings in a no-decision Thursday versus the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers pitched into the fifth inning for the third time in four starts, but he once again had trouble with traffic on the basepaths. He's walked three batters in three of his starts, though the eight strikeouts more than doubled his season total. Still, he landed just 52 of 91 pitches for strikes in this outing. McCullers is at a 6.57 ERA, 2.03 WHIP and 14:10 K:BB across 12.1 innings so far in his first major-league action since 2022. Walks were an issue for him in 2021 and 2022 as well, but not to this extent, and he'll be tough to trust in fantasy until he can cut down on the free passes. His next start is tentatively projected to be at home versus the Athletics.

McCullers came away with a no-decision in Friday's 6-3 win over the Rangers, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander also plunked Marcus Semien and uncorked a wild pitch, and McCullers left the mound in the line for the loss after 83 pitches (53 strikes). A six-run rally in the seventh by the Astros got him off the hook, however. The four frames still represented McCullers' longest outing since coming off the IL at the beginning of May, and his inability to go deep into games yet is understandable considering his two-year layoff due to injuries. He'll try to improve his efficiency in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Mariners.

McCullers (0-1) took the loss against the Reds on Saturday, allowing seven runs on three hits and three walks while recording just one out in the first inning. He did not record a strikeout.

EDGE Analysis

It was a brutal outing for McCullers in just his second start since being activated from the 15-day injured list May 4. He gave up a three-run home run to Elly De La Cruz, and after recording a groundout, McCullers proceeded to put the next four batters he faced on base before being mercifully lifted for Logan VanWey. McCullers will look to put Saturday's outing behind him and hit the reset button ahead of his next start, tentatively slated for next week on the road against the Rangers.

McCullers did not factor into the decision in Sunday's rain-shortened loss to the White Sox, allowing three hits and walks apiece over 3.2 scoreless innings. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

In his first outing back from 2023 flexor tendon surgery, McCullers was inefficient against a lowly Chicago lineup, requiring 87 pitches to get 11 outs. Despite not allowing a run, the Houston right-hander generated just six whiffs as his sinker averaged 91.8 mph, down from his 2022 average of 93.1 mph. Given his extended absence, it's not surprising that McCullers might require a few outings to shake off the rust. He currently lines up to make his next start against Cincinnati at home next weekend.

The Astros reinstated McCullers (forearm) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Sunday against the White Sox in Chicago.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers will be making his first appearance for Houston since the 2022 World Series, as he missed the past two seasons while recovering from June 2023 flexor tendon surgery. He's enjoyed a clean bill of health since the start of spring training and wrapped up his rehab assignment on a high note April 26, striking out seven over five scoreless innings and 71 pitches for Double-A Corpus Christi. As a result, he could be capped at 80-90 pitches in his season debut. McCullers is likely to be kept on a five-day rest schedule between starts initially, and the Astros are expected to transition into a six-man rotation during busier portions of their schedule to accommodate him.

McCullers (forearm) will return from the 15-day injured list Sunday and will start in the Astros' series finale against the White Sox in Chicago, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers will be taking the hill for the Astros for the first time since the 2022 World Series, after a prolonged recovery from June 2023 flexor tendon surgery kept him out of action for the entirety of the past two seasons. The right-hander was cleared to resume facing hitters in late February and steadily ramped up to close out spring training before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment March 30. Across four starts between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land, McCullers logged a 2.84 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB in 12.2 frames, including a five-inning scoreless appearance in his final outing Saturday. He built up to 71 pitches in that start, so McCullers could be operating with a slight workload restriction in his 2025 Astros debut. Houston may also be keen on building extra rest for McCullers between starts, so it wouldn't be surprising if the team expanded its rotation to six men for the next few weeks.

Manager Joe Espada said McCullers (forearm) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday before the Astros determine whether he's ready to be reinstated from the injured list, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander has a 2.84 ERA and 16:6 K:BB across four rehab outings, and if all goes well Wednesday, he could make his next start in the majors. McCullers hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2022 while recovering from arm issues, so it's a good idea to keep expectations in check despite his track record as a top-level starter prior to the injuries.

McCullers (forearm) allowed three hits and one walk while striking out seven across five scoreless innings in Saturday's rehab outing with Double-A Corpus Christi.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers had a two-week gap between rehab outings after dealing with an illness. He managed to keep ramping up, however, as he threw 71 pitches and delivered his longest start of the season. There has been no official word from the club, but McCullers could slot into the Houston rotation next weekend against the White Sox.

McCullers (forearm) will make a rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers was scratched from a scheduled rehab outing last week due to a stomach bug, but he's since thrown a 33-pitch bullpen session. He was able to work four innings in a rehab outing April 12, so he is nearing a traditional starter's workload and potential activation from the injured list.