Lance McCullers Jr. will rejoin Houston's rotation Friday in Baltimore after a month on the injured list with a finger blister. In 11 starts this season, he owns a 6.90 ERA, and this will be his latest comeback after flexor tendon surgery and a separate IL stint earlier in the year. McCullers threw five innings on 80 pitches in a Sugar Land rehab start and traveled with the Astros for their Detroit series, with coach Joe Espada indicating the blister is cleared for now.

Houston is navigating a busy 10-game stretch with no off day on the horizon, and McCullers could slot in as a sixth starter to help bridge the rotation. Cristian Javier, who left a recent start with illness, rejoined the team but the club hasn’t confirmed his next turn, leaving the Astros in a fluid rotation scenario as they head to Baltimore. The series marks a crucial test for how the Astros will manage innings and bullpen leverage as they chase wins down the stretch.

In the Baltimore set, the Orioles will try to slow the Astros' momentum, and fantasy managers will be watching McCullers closely for mixed league value. If he maintains health and pitches efficiently, he could become a speculative add in deeper formats, especially with the potential for a longer outing as he builds back stamina.

Houston visits Detroit to open a series with both teams perched at the top of their divisions. Arrighetti laces up for the Astros against Flaherty as Houston looks to rebound from a brutal weekend that saw Baltimore plate them 23-5 and drop a 12-0 result. Detroit just wrapped a four-game split with Minnesota and sits comfortable atop the Central, 8.5 games clear of Cleveland. The pitching duel shapes up as a fantasy-friendly ride: Arrighetti’s return has punch, Flaherty’s steadiness needs a spark, and the bullpens will likely decide this one late.

Odds and lines tilt toward Detroit, but NBC Sports’ model flags a Tigers win on the moneyline with a lean toward the over on 8 runs pushed by plays at Comerica. Look for a muted early game with potential late scoring as arms settle in, and fantasy managers should watch Arrighetti’s swing-and-miss upside after eight strikeouts in two DL-return starts, while Flaherty needs daylight to shake off a rough August.

Week 21 of 2025 brings a compact set of starting-pitcher waiver options, tailored for shallow leagues but with deeper-leaning plays that could pay off in standard formats. Will Warren anchors the top tier, offering reliable volume and recent five-inning quality starts as the Yankees chase wins. Jose Quintana stabilizes the rotation with dependable innings and solid ratios on a strong Brewers squad. Jose Soriano combines strikeouts with groundball variety for a back-end slot in many leagues. Hurston Waldrep offers upside as a top Braves prospect getting a late-season shot, while Charlie Morton provides veteran savvy as Detroit managers lean on experience. In deeper formats, Cristian Javier returns to form with injury-recovery potential; Zebby Matthews brings swing-and-mmiss upside tempered by HR risk; Nolan McLean, Jason Alexander, and Ryan Bergert each offer speculative, weekend-ready options with varying ceilings. Kyle Bradish, Michael McGreevy, Sean Burke, Michael Lorenzen, and Joey Wentz close the list with a mix of floor, wins potential, and breakout vibes. Proactive rosters can maximize Week 21 by pairing safe floors with high-upside stashes, while tracking BvP and PvB data for favorable matchups.

Héctor Neris and Cooper Hummel elected free agency after Houston Astros outrighted them, parting ways rather than accept minor-league assignments. Hummel was designated for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot for Cristian Javier, while Neris was DFA’d to accommodate Shawn Dubin’s return from the 60-day IL. Both players cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A Sugar Land, triggering rent-free agency options for players with enough MLB service time to reject an outright assignment.

Neris posted a 5.40 ERA across 12 appearances in his third stint with Houston, carrying a 5.26 ERA in 33 total MLB outings this season with Braves and Angels also on his ledger. Hummel slashed .172/.301/.276 in 36 games for Houston, with a separate one MLB game for Baltimore this year. The moves reflect roster management as Houston reshapes its bullpen and 40-man, while Javier remains a central piece of the Astros’ immediate future.

Fantasy angles center on Neris’ veteran bullpen upside and how teams will value his experience after ten MLB service years, and on Hummel’s versatility as a switch-hitting bench option who can fill multiple infield roles. Javier’s ongoing presence on the 40-man roster underscores Houston’s commitment to depth, while the 40-man churn provides a reminder that rosters and call-ups continue to redefine late-season and off-season fantasy value across MLB.