HOUSTON – After fighting back from a forearm strain that sidelined him for most of August and September, former All-Star Lance McCullers Jr. is back for the 2018 postseason.
McCullers -- who started Game 7 of the 2017 World Series in L.A. -- will likely be used out of the bullpen against the Indians in the ALDS. He appeared in 3 games in Houston's final road trip of the regular season, tossing two-and-a-third shutout innings, while striking out four.
When healthy, McCullers' devastating curveball can baffle batters, as evidenced by his 142 strikeouts in just 128.1 regular season innings. He made 22 starts in 2018, finishing with a 10-6 mark and 3.86 -- both career-bests.
Even if he mostly comes out of the bullpen during the 2018 playoffs, McCullers proved effective in that role during the 2017 World Series run, famously coming out of the 'pen for four shutout innings against the Yankees in Game 7 of the ALCS.