With an opportunity to clinch the AL West title for what feels like the 1,043rd time this week, the Astros are turning to Lance McCullers Jr. in his final start of the season tonight to help get it done. Based on his numbers alone – 3.13 ERA/3.47 FIP in 156 1/3 innings – there arguably isn’t another pitcher on the roster better suited for the job. But the anemic offense might make McCullers’ start tonight a moot point, for better or worse.
It wasn’t that long ago where this kind of situation would have called for the services of Justin Verlander, Dallas Keuchel, or Gerrit Cole.