Blanco and McCullers Take Significant Steps Toward Astros Return

Ronel Blanco and Lance McCullers Jr. made notable strides in their recovery efforts on Friday, inching closer to rejoining the Houston Astros’ pitching staff. Blanco made his first rehab start in a Florida Complex League game held in West Palm Beach, while McCullers threw a live batting practice session at Daikin Park, showcasing their determination to get back on the mound.

In his rehab start, Blanco delivered an impressive performance, striking out five batters while allowing just one hit and one walk over three scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins’ Florida Complex League affiliate. He capped off his outing by retiring the final five batters he faced, a sign of his growing confidence and effectiveness.

The 32-year-old right-hander, who underwent Tommy John surgery with an internal brace and a repair to his right forearm last June, finished the 2024 season with a commendable 2.80 ERA and even threw a no-hitter in his first start of the year. Astros manager Joe Espada hinted at the possibility of Blanco making his next rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi, contingent on how he feels following Friday’s outing.

Meanwhile, McCullers, who has been sidelined since May 16 due to a right rotator cuff impingement, took a significant step forward by throwing a 25-pitch live batting practice session against teammates Taylor Trammell and Brice Matthews. “It was good,” McCullers reflected on his performance. “I was in the zone a lot. (I haven’t) thrown sliders in a while, so sliders were really good, changeup was good. When you don’t face hitters for a long time, it’s more about trying to be in the zone, and that was accomplished.”

McCullers noted that his velocity reached the “low 90s,” aligning with his target range. He is expected to either throw another live BP or begin a rehab assignment soon, marking another step in his recovery journey.

Additionally, Cristian Javier is also making progress towards a return. The right-hander has been on the injured list since April 9 due to a Grade 2 shoulder strain. Espada confirmed that Javier will start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday in Albuquerque, further bolstering the Astros’ pitching depth as they navigate the season.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.