McCormick heads to Sugar Land to work on his swing and timing with a crowded outfield looming as Meyers nears a return from rehab. His season-line struggles underpin the move, but the Astros still see upside in his power and on-base capabilities when he’s right, keeping him in the mix for a late-season rebound upon recall.

McCormick has filled Houston’s CF duties during Meyers’ absence and remains in the mix as Meyers returns. His steady defense and multi-positional flexibility support regular at-bats, with enough upside to contribute in runs and RBIs when the lineup stabilizes around Alvarez and Meyers.

McCormick logged a scoreless inning on the mound in a bullpen-heavy night, underscoring Houston’s stretched relief corps. He also contributed as an outfielder, though the offense remained mostly dormant. His unusual dual role highlights the depth and stress of the Astros’ bullpen in a challenging stretch.

McCormick pitched the ninth in the lopsided loss, a quirky note that signals Houston’s willingness to test bullpen depth in blowouts. His role in this game underscores the unpredictability of late-inning tasks and how even outfielders can be mixed into unusual duties in drastic scorelines.

McCormick’s ninth-inning appearance showcased a rare bullpen-utilization angle and a disciplined performance from a role-specific arm. In fantasy terms, his value is situational, limited to holds in leagues that count late-inning appearances, but it highlights the Astros’ willingness to diversify pitching roles.