Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. to miss 2019 season after elbow surgery
Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. celebrates after retiring the side in the 8th inning against the Boston Red Sox in American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on Oct. 13, 2018 in Boston, Mass. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) - Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. will miss all of next season following Tommy John surgery.
Houston announced McCullers had the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow repaired Tuesday.
The 25-year-old was 10-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 22 starts and three relief appearances this year, striking out 142 in 128 1/3 innings. He was 10-4 before the All-Star break, then went on the disabled list from Aug. 5 to Sept. 24 because of elbow discomfort.
McCullers returned for the final week of the regular season and had three scoreless relief appearances, then had a 1.80 ERA in five relief outings during the playoffs.
He is 29-22 with a 3.67 ERA in 80 starts and three relief appearances over four seasons and was an AL All-Star in 2017.
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