ATLANTA -- Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr . was placed on the injured list Friday with right hand soreness, a move which could end his regular season. He reported the injury following his two-inning relief outing in Thursday’s loss to the Blue Jays and headed back to Houston for tests, general manager Dana Brown said Friday.

McCullers wouldn’t be eligible to come off the IL until Sept. 27 -- the penultimate day of the regular season -- so his availability going forward is up in the air. McCullers has a 6.88 ERA in 15 games this season, the last three of which have come in relief.

“We won’t know until we get the full evaluation done, but we’ll try to remain hopeful,” Brown said.

McCullers began the season on the IL before returning to the mound in early May, which marked

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