McCullers allowed five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six over four innings in Thursday's exhibition game against the Cubs, Hunter Atkins of the Houston Chronicle reports.
McCullers needed 72 pitches to get 12 outs as he sandwiched two strong innings around a couple of grinders in the second and third. He told manager A.J. Hinch he could have thrown deeper into the game, but that wasn't the objective. Having the right-hander come out of the start healthy -- McCullers made just 14 starts last season and was delayed this spring due to an elbow injury -- and ready to start the second game of the season, April 4, against the Mariners is all the team was looking to accomplish.