Astros RHP Lance McCullers Jr. dealing with arm soreness

Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. is experiencing soreness in his pitching arm stemming from a bullpen session on Tuesday, manager Dusty Baker told reporters on Friday.

McCullers wasn't on the field for official team workouts on Thursday and Friday.

"He was a little sore, which is to be expected," Baker told reporters at West Palm Beach, Fla. "We'll have to see. We've got to chill. Don't make something (out of it)."

Baker tried to diminish concern about the oft-injured McCullers, who missed most of last season with a strained forearm sustained during the 2021 postseason. He went 4-2 with a 2.27 ERA in eight regular-season starts and 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA in three playoff starts.

His last outing was abysmal as he served up five homers during a 7-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the World Series. The 29-year-old allowed seven runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Among McCullers' injury absences include the entire 2019 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery.

In 2021, McCullers went 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA in a career-high 28 starts. Overall, he is 49-32 with a 3.48 ERA in 127 starts and three relief appearances.

Houston is hoping to count on McCullers to play a bigger role after losing Justin Verlander as a free agent to the New York Mets.