HOUSTON -- Some starting pitching help could be coming this month for the Astros, who had a pair of right-handers -- Lance McCullers Jr. and Ronel Blanco -- make rehab starts Wednesday night in the Minor Leagues.
McCullers, starting for Triple-A Sugar Land in Oklahoma City, threw four innings, allowing four hits, one earned run and one walk while striking out three batters in his second rehab start. He threw 41 of 60 pitches for strikes and got four whiffs in 28 swings. McCullers’ four-seam fastball averaged 90.9 mph and his sinker averaged 91.2 mph.
The 32-year-old has been on the IL since May 19 with what he described as a right rotator impingement. McCullers was originally scratched from his scheduled start on May 19 with right shoulder inflammation. He said that the issue had been bothering him for a few starts, but he was typically able to push through it.
McCullers recorded a 6.86 ERA in 39 1/3 innings across eight starts with the Astros to start this season.
Blanco, starting for Double-A Corpus Christi at Northwest Arkansas, worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing five hits, three runs (two earned) and one walk while striking out four batters. He gave up a solo homer in the fourth inning. Blanco threw 45 of 60 pitches for strikes and got 10 swings and misses in his third rehab start (second at Double-A).
Blanco, named the Astros’ Pitcher of the Year in 2024, had Tommy John surgery last June.
Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that right-hander Cristian Javier was going to come off the injured list Friday and be available to pitch in relief. Javier landed on the IL with a right shoulder strain after three starts in which he posted a 12.54 ERA in 9 ⅓ innings, and has exhausted his Minor League rehab clock.