Lance McCullers Jr. shows flashes of form in spring debut

Coming off a difficult 2025 season where his fastball velocity was problematic, McCullers looked sharp in his first spring training appearance. He relied on his curveball and slider last year, but Friday's outing showed he can once again utilize his four-seam fastball.

The encouraging sign comes as the Astros looked for ways to incorporate McCullers into the rotation or bullpen. While eight pitches isn't enough to answer all questions about his health, the return of his electric fastball offers a glimmer of hope for Houston's rotation depth.