BALTIMORE -- Right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. may have helped the Astros to a 10-7 win over the Orioles on Friday night in his return from the injured list. He could not, however, quiet concerns about his viability in the rotation for a team vying for another AL West title and a ninth consecutive postseason appearance.

McCullers allowed three runs over four innings at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in his 12th start of 2025, after missing all of 2023 and 2024 with multiple forearm surgeries, and -- more recently -- 30 games with a blister on his pitching hand.

He allowed five hits and five walks on 87 pitches and saw his season WHIP rise to 1.80. It was his most free passes issued since July 22, 2018 and a fourth start in his last five where he recorded at least as many walks as strikeo

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