Astros Place Lance McCullers Jr. On Injured List, Rookie Ryan Gusto To Start

The Houston Astros have placed right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. on the 15-day injured list due to a sprained right foot, prompting rookie Ryan Gusto to start in his place against the Athletics. McCullers, who has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons, had made seven starts this year with a 1-2 record and a 4.91 ERA. Gusto, originally scheduled to start the second game of the series, has been moved up to start the series opener on Monday and is set to make a second start later in the week against the Angels. In his 2025 season so far, Gusto has a 4-3 record with a 4.56 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP across 15 major league appearances, showing control rather than strikeout dominance. The Astros have faced multiple injuries to their pitching rotation, including season-ending Tommy John surgeries for Hayden Wesneski and Ronel Blanco, and absences for Spencer Arrighetti, Luis Garcia, and Cristian Javier. Jason Alexander has been recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land to fill McCullers' spot on the active roster.