(SportsRadio 610) - The Astros are transferring right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. to the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster for slugger Yordan Alvarez, who spent the past several days dealing with an illness.
McCullers, who was the Astros' best pitcher last year, is still rehabbing from a flexor strain suffered during Game 4 of the ALDS against the Chicago White Sox last year.
Earlier this year, Astros general manager James Click did not rule out the possibility of putting McCullers on the 60-day injured list. Now, that's reality.
Click said McCullers is throwing flat grounds pain free, but doesn't know when he will take the next step, SportsRadio 610's Adam Spolane reports. Click said McCullers is at the January stage of the off-season calendar and the team wants to replicate a normal spring training with him.
Without McCullers, the Astros have Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Jose Urquidy, Luis Garcia and Jake Odorizzi in their rotation. Cristian Javier is also a viable option as a starter.
Houston's bullpen already took a hit over the weekend, with All-Star closer Ryan Pressly going on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation (backdated to April 14).
The Astros (5-4) enter their home-opener against the Los Angeles Angels with the seventh-lowest ERA in baseball (3.22).