The Houston Astros faced a tough loss against the Tampa Bay Rays, falling 3-2 after a ninth-inning rally from the Rays. The Astros led 2-0 heading into the eighth but were unable to capitalize on their scoring opportunities despite a solid start from Brandon Walter, who threw five scoreless innings. The Astros' bullpen struggled with effectiveness and fatigue, leading to Kaleb Ort giving up the winning run after a leadoff walk and a double put the Rays in scoring position. The Astros' offense also faltered, going just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Isaac Paredes homered for the Rays, while Taylor Walls' sacrifice fly capped the comeback. Houston's reliance on a limited bullpen proved costly, especially with key relievers like Josh Hader unavailable. This loss signifies a need for the Astros to improve their late-game performance and manage their pitching staff more effectively moving forward.

Lance McCullers Jr. is set to make his anticipated return to the mound for the Houston Astros on Saturday. After overcoming illness that postponed his last scheduled rehab start, McCullers will pitch for Double-A Corpus Christi against Frisco, with hopes that it will be his final rehab outing before rejoining the Astros. Having missed the previous two seasons due to flexor tendon surgery, McCullers’ return is critical for the Astros as they seek to bolster their pitching staff. Manager Joe Espada mentioned that no specific pitch count has been determined, but a familiar threshold around 61 pitches from his last outing is expected.

Alongside McCullers, fellow right-hander Kaleb Ort is also on track for a comeback, slated to pitch for Sugar Land. With his left oblique strain behind him, Ort looks to make an impact as the Astros prepare for their series against the Kansas City Royals. As both pitchers work to regain their form, their additions could mean considerable depth and strength for the Astros' pitching rotation moving forward.