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The Astros have made official a move we knew was going down since last Friday. Houston has called up Lance McCuller, Jr. to make the start for the Astros today. As for the corresponding moves, the Astros have transferred shortstop Jed Lowrie to the 60-day disabled list and put long relief pitcher Samuel Deduno on the 15-day disabled list.
The #Astros have officially selected RHP Lance McCullers to the Major League roster.
— #VoteAstros (@astros) May 18, 2015
RHP Samuel Deduno has been placed on the 15-day DL, while SS Jed Lowrie has been transferred to the 60-day DL.
— #VoteAstros (@astros) May 18, 2015
McCullers was the Astros' second first-round pick in the 2012 June Amateur Draft, 41st overall. He has slowly moved up the ranks, spending 2013 with Low-A Quad Cities, 2014 in High-A Lancaster, and started the 2015 season with Double-A Corpus Christi. With the Hooks, McCullers was 3-1 with a 0.62 ERA in 29 IP. He had 43 strikeouts and just 11 walks during that stretch. McCullers was originally called up to Triple-A Fresno, but spent only one day there before A.J. Hinch announced he would be starting today for Houston.
Jed Lowrie had surgery on his thumb that will keep him out of the lineup till after the All-Star Break. Lowrie injured the thumb on April 27, as he attempted to score from third on a Colby Rasmus double. With Lowrie on the 60-day disabled list a spot is freed up on the 40-man roster. Lowrie was batting .300 with eight extra-base hits and 10 RBIs at the time of the injury. 60 days would put Lowrie's return around June 26 at the earliest.
Samuel Deduno has been the Astros longman, and spot starter this season. Thus far he is 0-1 with a 6.86 ERA in nine appearances (two starts). Deduno is reported to be suffering from some back tightness as the cause for his disabled list stint.
RHP Samuel Deduno on the 15-day DL with a lower back strain (retroactive to May 14) a
— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) May 18, 2015
Moving one, Happy McCullers Day to you and yours.