Lance McCullers Jr. returns to the mound for the Houston Astros this Sunday against the Chicago White Sox, marking his first major league appearance since the 2022 World Series. Astros manager Joe Espada expressed excitement about McCullers' comeback, acknowledging the hard work he has put in following his surgery in June 2023 to repair a flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. McCullers, an All-Star in 2018, has shown promising form during his rehab with 16 strikeouts over 12.2 innings in minor league starts.

With a career record of 49-32 and a 3.48 ERA, McCullers understands the weight of this moment, especially after missing significant time due to injuries since his MLB debut in 2015. His last outing was particularly impressive, with seven strikeouts over five shutout innings for Double-A Corpus Christi. With anticipation building, fans and teammates alike are eager to see how McCullers performs as he aims to reclaim his spot in the Astros' rotation.