It is hard to believe, but just three years ago Lance McCullers was Houston’s best starting pitcher and, start for start, he was one of the better pitchers in the American League. Which is why it will be hard for management, the team, and even Lance himself to accept that he just isn’t capable of being a starter anymore. Fortunately, moving him to the bullpen will help fix a significant weakness for our Stros’: middle relief.
Since making his big league debut in 2015, McCullers has topped 130 innings just once and that was in 2021 when he hurt himself in the postseason anyway.