Lance McCullers Jr. made a significant return to the mound after a 915-day hiatus, successfully completing 3 ⅔ scoreless innings against the Chicago White Sox. This marked his first start since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series and was instrumental for the Houston Astros, who maintained their lead throughout his outing. McCullers faced some challenges, allowing three hits and walking three batters, yet he struck out four and managed to escape tight spots without surrendering a run. His pitch count reached 87, demonstrating a careful approach to his comeback from surgery to repair a flexor tendon.

In a game that tested his endurance, McCullers maintained a focus on using his breaking pitches, notably throwing 17 sliders and 16 curveballs. Notably, his sinker averaged 91.8 mph, slightly lower than his previous season's average. Despite some shaky moments, like loading the bases in the second inning, his ability to induce pop-ups and strikeouts showcased a resilient performance. His exit came after a walk to Joshua Palacios, ensuring the Astros remained in control as reliever Tayler Scott entered to close out the inning.