Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. returns to the hill after online death threats

Arlington, Texas-Houston Astros Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. on Friday gave up two undeserved runs over four innings against the Texas Rangers, six nights, after the right-handed man was not from the first inn in a game that he said that he was followed by online threats.

McCullers, who celebrates a comeback after two full seasons for injuries, gave up seven runs, while last Saturday he only got one in Houston's 13: 9 loss in Houston, and then, that he received online murder threats that were directed against his children. The Astros said the Houston police and the Major League Baseball Security had been made aware of the threats.

The 31-year-old right-hander on Friday only started his third start for the Astros since the World Series 2022.

McCullers needed 83 parking spaces to get through his four innings and he threw 53 strikes. He struck two, went one and gave up four singles.

The only runs against McCullers came when Jonah Heim had a two-run single with two outs in the second inning. That was three batteries after the Shortstop Jeremy Peña was charged because of an error when he did not caught McCuller's litter, who tried to get the main runner on the second basis after applying a comebacker.

Jake Burger, whose Homer was the only run in the 1-0 victory of the Rangers on Thursday evening, had an infield popout before home was hit into the right field corner.

The Astros manager Joe Espada said before the game on Friday that McCullers mentally “in a good place. Physically well. He just has to go out there and just have something self -confidence and bad luck, be aggressive in the zone and we have his back.”

McCullers was operated on in June 2023 to repair his right -wing gear and remove a bone spur, and rehabilitation last June when he had a setback during a bullpen session that completed him for the rest of the season for the rest of the season. This year he took four starts in the small leagues before he was back into the Astros rotation on May 4th.

“We all have confidence that he can do it. He just has to go out and do his thing,” said Espada. “It will happen.”

McCullers has been 49-33 and 3.53 ERA in 133 games (130 starts) for the Astros since his debut with them in 2015.

As an all-star in 2017, McCullers with an ERA of 3.86 ERA in 25 games in 2018 went to Tommy John Operation 10-6. He was 13-5 with an ERA of 3.16 ERA in 28 starts in 2021 and then signed a five-year contract of $ 85 million, which is until 2026.