Astros P Lance McCullers (shoulder) to start season on DL
Houston Astros starter Lance McCullers will be placed on the 15-day disabled list to open the regular season as he recovers from a sore right shoulder, reports Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle.
McCullers first felt the soreness on March 6 after batting practice and has not participated in team activities since. An MRI on the shoulder did not reveal any structural damage.
“He's not going to make the season,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “He should be doing some things and throwing bullpen and things like that prior to the season, but opening day, he won't be an active player. There's just not going to be enough time to build him up for the role in which we anticipate him doing that.”
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McCullers, 22, went 6–7 with a 3.22 ERA in 22 starts with the Astros last season. He also made a start in the postseason, giving up two hits and two earned runs over 6 2/3 innings in Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals.
The righthander was taken with the 41st pick in the 2012 draft by the Astros.
