McCullers (back) will be re-evaluated Saturday at Minute Maid Park for a possible return to the rotation next week, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The Astros haven't set their rotation for next week yet, but if all checks out, McCullers will throw Tuesday or Wednesday against the Mariners at Safeco Field. He threw a five-inning rehab start Wednesday, which manager A.J. Hinch described as "a normal game" for the right-hander. "His stuff was pretty good," Hinch said Thursday. "He was in the low-to-mid 90s. That's a good sign. His breaking ball was a little bit better. He threw a quite a few changeups." McCullers threw only 60 pitches in Wednesday's start, but followed it up with a 15-pitch simulated inning in the bullpen. Any fears that his pitch count will be limited upon his return should be mitigated by that extra bullpen session.