The Houston Astros suffered a significant loss when Justin Verlander, the winner of the 2022 AL Cy Young award, decided to sign with the New York Mets.
They have the depth to absorb the blow, though: Luis Garcia, Jose Urquidy, Cristian Javier, Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, and Lance McCullers Jr. represent a good top six to rely on, though.
The problem is that McCullers won’t be starting the season on the active roster because of an untimely injury.
“Lance McCullers Jr. said he had an MRI yesterday that revealed a ‘small muscle strain.’ He is shut down for a few weeks. ‘Opening day is out of the question,’ he said,” Astros insider Chandler Rome tweeted.
Lance McCullers Jr. said he had an MRI yesterday that revealed a “small muscle strain.” He is shut down for a few weeks.
“Opening day is out of the question,” he said.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) February 22, 2023
Obviously, the injury is to his forearm because he also said that his UCL is in perfect condition.
The UCL is the most important ligament in the elbow, and the one that is repaired in Tommy John surgery.
In this specific case, there is no ligament damage so a long-term absence is not in the cards.
That’s good news for the Astros.
McCullers, who had a 2.25 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 47.2 innings last year, is a key component of the Astros’ rotation and somewhat of a de facto ace, together with Valdez, in Verlander’s absence.
He is, unfortunately, injury-prone and that circumstance is definitely testing the Astros’ depth and resolve.
Don’t be surprised if Houston goes to the market and adds a cheap veteran option to start games.
They have their five starters at the moment, but they probably should have brought in at least one more.
They are now an injury away from having to deploy subpar options.
NEXT: Astros Insider Shares Latest Yordan Alvarez Update
