Astros manager Joe Espada said Friday that McCullers (forearm) will make his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday against the Nationals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander touched 94 mph during his most recent live batting practice session and felt fine physically, clearing the way for his spring debut. This will be the first time McCullers has pitched in a game since the 2022 World Series, as he's dealt with numerous arm issues since then. He will begin the year on the injured list but could be ready for a spot in the Astros' rotation relatively early on in the season.

McCullers (forearm) could make his Grapefruit League debut as soon as Tuesday against the Nationals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers completed another live batting practice session Wednesday, saying afterward that he felt fine and touched 94 miles per hour with his fastball. The news has been promising on the right-hander this spring as he comes back from two missed seasons due to arm problems. McCullers will begin the season on the injured list, but he could be an option to join the Houston rotation by May 1 or so.

Astros manager Joe Espada said that McCullers (forearm) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The upcoming live BP session represents the final hurdle McCullers will need to clear before taking the mound for what would be his first game action since the 2022 World Series. Now 31 years old and no longer an intriguing prospect, the right-hander missed the last two seasons while recovering from June 2023 surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon and remove a bone spur from his right forearm. He had been expected to return to action at some point in 2024, but those plans were tabled after he suffered a setback in his throwing program last summer. McCullers resumed throwing off a mound over the winter and seems to have steered clear of any setbacks since then, leaving the Astros optimistic he'll be able to contribute this year. While he remains on track to open the season on the injured list, the fact that he's on the cusp of pitching in spring games suggests that his lengthy stint on the shelf could finally end early in 2025.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Friday that McCullers (forearm) is "really, really close" to pitching in a game, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers threw another live batting practice session Friday and came out of it well, and it appears the next step could be for him to try things out in a game setting. The right-hander will not be ready to pitch for Houston on Opening Day, but things have been trending in a good direction with his rehab this spring. McCullers hasn't appeared in a major-league game since the 2022 World Series due to multiple arm injuries.

McCullers (forearm) threw live batting practice to three teammates Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers threw a total of 20 pitches and managed to hit 94.7 mph with his fastball. He also mixed in his curveball, sinker and changeup. McCullers still plans to complete at least three more live batting practice sessions, but his stated goal is to appear in a Grapefruit League game.

McCullers (forearm) will throw live a live batting practice session Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers will face hitters for the first time since he underwent surgery in June 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. McCullers has already been ruled out for Opening Day but hopes to make some Grapefruit League appearances this spring. He hasn't appeared in a major-league game since the 2022 World Series due to multiple arm injuries.

McCullers (forearm) will be cleared for live batting practice if he gets through a bullpen session Monday with no issues, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers has thrown several recent bullpen sessions without any hiccups and is almost ready to face hitters. The right-hander will not be ready in time for Opening Day, but he hopes to make some Grapefruit League appearances before the schedule runs out. McCullers hasn't appeared in a big-league game since the 2022 World Series due to multiple arm injuries.

McCullers (forearm) hopes to pitch in Grapefruit League games toward the end of spring training, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

He would then be assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land after that to begin a rehab assignment. McCullers had surgery in June of 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur and had to be shut down for a while last year due to arm soreness. However, his recovery has been going well recently, as he's up to seven bullpen sessions thrown and is feeling good. McCullers could conceivably be ready to pitch for the Astros around May 1, but any timetable for the oft-injured righty is still guesswork.

General manager Dana Brown said Saturday that McCullers (forearm) will not be ready for the start of the regular season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers recently returned to throwing off a mound and still hopes to return early in the year, but it now appears that he will begin the season on the injured list for the third time in a row. The 31-year-old righty hasn't appeared in an MLB game since the 2022 World Series after undergoing surgery in June 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur.

McCullers (forearm/elbow) has resumed throwing off a mound and is hoping to return sometime early on in the 2025 season, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers had surgery in June of 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. After progressing to mound work in May, he had his throwing program halted and was ultimately shut down due to soreness in his pitching arm. Testing absolved him of structural damage and he's now back to throwing off the bump again, although it sounds like he's no given to be ready for Opening Day. McCullers last pitched in a major-league game during the 2022 World Series.