Ahead of the Houston Astros and Athletics game to kick off the week, it was announced that starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. was scratched from his start and placed on the 15-day injured list with a foot injury. The news came out of nowhere, and there were plenty of questions about where the injury came from.
Chandler Rome of The Athletic wrote a story on McCullers' placement on the injured list. His piece provided insight into the injury in how it occurred, and what made it a "freak accident."
"Right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. sprained his right foot working out in the team's weight room on Saturday," Chandler wrote. "Manager Joe Espada said prior to Monday's series-opener against the A's."
The Astros, already down multiple starting pitchers due to injury, lost McCullers for at least the next two weeks after his the injured list. The circumstances of his injury are also odd, as he didn't suffer the injury in the game, but rather while working out ahead of his next start.
Rome continued, sharing how Joe Espada detailed McCuller's injury. "Espada called the circumstance a 'freak accident,' adding that McCullers 'kind of rolled his foot' while working out. The sprain is above McCullers' big toe, Espada said."
Amid the placement of McCullers on the injured list, the Astros called up Jason Alexander, who will start for the Astros in the second game of the series against the Athletics in Sacramento.
The "freak accident" that McCullers suffered is far from the first time pitchers, or players in general, have suffered injuries in strange scenarios. But, in the Astros and McCullers case, this accident stung a lot more.
After not pitching since 2022, McCullers' return to the mound was a welcome one in Houston. He had struggled at times through his first seven starts of the year, with a 4.91 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 29.1 innings pitched.
But, making his return to the mound after being away from the game for two years is an incredible achievement. Factoring in the Astros' lack of pitching depth due to their injuries, his role on the team in 2025 is an important one.
Now that McCullers suffered the "freak accident," which will keep him out for at least the next two weeks, the Astros need to pivot elsewhere. Whether it's trading for a starter or using Minor League talent to get by, the Astros will need to make some difficult decisions over the next few weeks.