McCullers threw 25 pitches in the session, facing Astros hitters Taylor Trammell and Brice Matthews. He said afterward his next step will either be another live BP or starting a rehab assignment as he attempts to return from the injury that has sidelined him for the past month.
“When you don’t face hitters for a long time it’s more — can I try to be around the zone, in the zone, and that was accomplished,” McCullers said. “Velo was good enough. I was like low 90s (mph). That’s kind of where I’ve been this year anyway, so happy with that.”
On May 19, the Astros scratched McCullers from a start against the Twins and placed him on the 15-day injured list due to “shoulder inflammation.” McCullers, who was 2-3 with a 6.86 ERA in eight starts prior to the going on the injured list, said Friday that his injury was a rotator cuff impingement.
Manager Joe Espada said at the time McCullers had dealt with the injury for “a few starts.” McCullers on Friday said the issue “happened a few starts in a row” and “progressively got worse” to the point that he was unsure about being able to get through a full outing.
“It’s kind of like, ‘I don’t feel great, been dealing with it, don’t feel like I can give you guys a full start,’” McCullers said. “So the conversation was, ‘Let’s just get it settled down.’ And they had the ability to make sure the bullpen’s right, make sure they get somebody up to start.”
McCullers said he did not throw for about a week after being placed on the injurd list, then resumed playing catch and threw several bullpens prior to facing hitters. He said he threw sliders and changeups along with fastballs in Friday’s session.
What role McCullers, who is in the last season of a five-year, $85 million ext/ension, might fill if he returns is unclear. McCullers has a 5.19 ERA in 32 major-league appearances under that extension, missing all of the 2023 and ’24 seasons following flexor surgery.
A timeline for McCullers could become clearer when he begins a rehab assignment. McCullers is among several Astros starters working back from injuries, along with Cristian Javier and Ronel Blanco. Javier is slated to make his fourth rehab start in his return from a shoulder strain Sunday for Triple-A Sugar Land.
Blanco, returning from Tommy John surgery, began a rehab assignment Friday with the Astros’ Florida Complex League affiliate. Blanco threw three innings, allowed one hit and struck out five in his outing. His next rehab start will likely be for Double-A Corpus Christi, Espada said.
Hayden Wesneski, also recovering from elbow surgery, is not yet ready to begin pitching in minor-league rehab games but could reach that stage “soon,” Espada said. Wesneski had surgery in late May last year. Blanco then underwent surgery in early June. Houston hopes to regain both in the second half.