The layoff, due to a right forearm strain suffered during the 2021 NLDS, took that long to rehab. The rest seems to have done him pretty good. Over a six-inning start, he surrendered no runs on two hits and four walks, striking out five Athletics and getting 47-of-81 offerings over the plate.
After McCullers got through the top of the first without any problems, Alex Bregman ensured that the pressure would be off the 28-year-old right-hander with a two-run homer, his 15th of the season. The homer, traveled 408 feet and was clocked off the bat at 105 MPH.