Carlos Correa witnessed Lance McCullers Jr.’s first start of 2026, an 8-1 victory for the Astros over the Red Sox.
From shortstop, Correa watched McCullers pitch seven innings, allowing one run and four hits while striking out nine batters. Correa said, “It was an emotional night for him.”
Correa’s Offseason View of McCullers’s Dedication
Correa worked out with McCullers the whole offseason. He saw McCullers’ workout program, including waking up early to take the kids to school and then spending the day working out. “It’s pretty much spending all day, every single day in the offseason for him to be in that position to go out there and perform for this team. It means the world, man,” said Correa.
McCullers’ Mindset and Performance
McCullers said he’s been trying to stay present and compete. He said he is trying to not worry about the past or the future and just enjoy the moment. McCullers threw seven innings for the first time since Sept. 21, 2022.
He delivered Houston’s best start of its first turn in the rotation. McCullers threw 96 pitches and registered 17 whiffs, relying mostly on his sinker and cutter.
Key Plays in the Astros’ Victory
Besides McCullers’ pitching, Correa made a phenomenal play at shortstop in the sixth inning to rob Marcelo Mayer of a hit. Jose Altuve hit a pair of home runs. Yordan Alvarez and rookie Brice Matthews also homered, contributing to the Astros’ third consecutive win.
Manager’s Reaction
Astros manager Joe Espada said, “I’m happy for him. He’s worked hard to get back on track.”
McCullers let out a cathartic scream following his final pitch. It was the kind of raw emotion we hadn’t seen from the Astros veteran right-hander in quite some time.