McCullers wing suffering

Lance McCullers' right arm has given plenty of opposing hitters trouble over the years.

It's also given him a lot of trouble.

McCullers was removed from his start Saturday against the Dodgers with right elbow discomfort, the latest in a line of injuries that have hampered the talented pitcher in recent seasons. McCullers had thrown four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out five, before being removed ahead of the start of the fifth inning.



He'll head back to Houston Sunday to be examined by team doctors, manager A.J. Hinch said. Speaking to media at his locker, McCullers said he's hopeful it's not serious but struck a tone of someone not convinced it will be.

"It's weird when you have an in-game injury and you're trying to evaluate on that day," McCullers told reporters after the game. "I'm hopeful that it's going to be good news, but I'll deal with it. Whatever's done is done, and I'm looking to help contribute to the team whenever that time comes again."

Injuries small and not-so-small are nothing new for the 24-year-old. McCullers had the start of his 2016 season delayed by right shoulder inflammation. Later that year, a right elbow sprain -- which, incidentally, was initially assessed as right elbow discomfort -- ended his season in August. Not confined to arm-related injuries, McCullers also missed several weeks last season with two separate DL stints for back discomfort.

The Astros, who haven't had a starter miss a turn yet this year due to injury, certainly got no sympathy from their opponent Saturday -- with Alex Wood's trip to the DL, all five of the Dodgers' starters have now spent time on the shelf this year -- but McCullers' fantasy owners are in a bad spot with the news. With only a few weeks left to go before fantasy playoffs, owners could be left scrambling to find a serviceable starter to fill McCullers' shoes if he is indeed out for any extended period.

And while the Astros have no shortage of terrific pitchers in their major league rotation, how they fill McCullers' shoes is a question with no obvious answer, too. Their Triple-A Fresno roster lacks any household names; Brad Peacock, who relieved McCullers on Saturday, has starting experience but isn't stretched out, having pitched one inning or fewer in his previous nine appearances before being pressed into duty Saturday. The true answer may lie outside the organization, as the non-waiver trade deadline has passed but plenty of options could still be available after passing through waivers.

All those questions are on hold for the moment, though. For now, we wait.

Scioscia To Step Down After 2018

Angels manager Mike Scioscia is presently the longest-tenured manager in the majors.

That tenure may be coming to a close.

Scioscia declined comment Saturday, but sources told The Athletic' Ken Rosenthal that the veteran manager, who's been at the helm of the Angels since the outset of the 2000 season, will step down from his post at the end of the season. Angels general manager Billy Eppler also declined to comment for Rosenthal's piece.

Reached by text later Saturday, Scioscia told ESPN's Alden Gonzalez, "Nothing has changed since I spoke on this last October. I am focused on this year and will talk to Arte (Moreno), John (Carpino) and Billy (Eppler) after the season."

The timing makes sense, with Scioscia's 10-year contract expiring at the end of the 2018 season and no new deal in place. It also makes sense from an on-field product, as the Angels have fallen behind in an increasingly competitive AL West. Scioscia's Angels last went to the postseason in 2014 and last won a playoff game in 2009.

If Scioscia does walk away, it will be as the author of more than 1,625 wins and a world championship in 2002. He's currently 18th on the all-time wins list for managers.

Harper (Knee) Questionable for Sunday

Bryce Harper was down, then up, then out Saturday, but he could be back in as early as Sunday.

The outfielder was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning of their nightcap against the Reds, briefly going down in pain before taking his base, and after he seemed pained chasing down a Mason Williams double in the top half of the seventh inning he was pulled for Adam Eaton. Harper said after the game that his right knee, where he was hit by an Austin Brice breaking ball, was sore but that it wasn't an overly worrisome situation.

"I was just in pain," Harper said. "There was no point in being out there."

Harper was noncommittal on his possible availability for Sunday's series finale. Fantasy owners will want to check in before keeping him out or inserting him into their Sunday lineups.

National League Quick Hits: Buster Posey (head) passed his concussion test and was cleared to start at first base Sunday. Posey won't return to his usual post behind the plate just yet, but it's still very positive news that he'll be back on the field after leaving Friday's game and sitting out Saturday. He appears to have dodged a bullet this time ... Padres placed OF Wil Myers on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to August 3, with a left foot contusion. Myers was set to miss his second straight game on Saturday after fouling a ball off of his foot on Thursday, so the Padres thought it best to just sit him down for a few days and let the injury heal rather than rushing him back and risking further aggravation. He expressed optimism he'll miss just the minimum 10 days before returning ... Dodgers placed LHP Alex Wood on the 10-day disabled list with left adductor tendinitis. Wood was said to have left Friday night's start against the Astros due to a tight left hamstring, but the Dodgers on Saturday termed it an adductor injury. Either way, he'll be out for at least the next 10 days, the first time he's been on the DL this year. The southpaw has a 3.58 ERA through 22 starts this year. Ross Stripling will take his spot in the starting rotation for at least the near term ... Zack Wheeler struck out nine batters while firing seven scoreless innings to earn a win against the Braves on Saturday. The excellent outing evens his record at 6-6 with a 3.89 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 21 starts ... Andrew McCutchen went 5-for-5 with a homer and two RBI, but the Giants fell to the Diamondbacks on Saturday. It's the second time that McCutchen has picked up five or more hits in a game, as he had a six-hit affair against the Dodgers on April 7 ... Giants optioned RHP Chris Stratton to Triple-A Sacramento. It's been a long, hard fall for the right-hander, who owned a 2.32 ERA after his first five starts of the year. After a beatdown at the hands of the Diamondbacks on Friday, his ERA sits at 5.52.

American League Quick Hits: Mike Trout (wrist) sat out a third straight game Saturday and told Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register he "felt it pretty good" when he tried to swing a bat before Saturday's game. "It’s obviously frustrating," Trout said. "You don't want to be sitting on the bench watching your team out there... I’ve got to take care of it." He remains day to day, for now ... Nathan Eovaldi put up zeroes for eight innings Saturday, leading the Red Sox to a 4-1 win over the Yankees. It's early, but the best trade of the deadline is shaping up to be the one that brought Eovaldi to the Red Sox. Through two starts, he's now fired 15 scoreless innings, allowing seven hits and a walk while striking out nine ... the Rangers signed free agent starter Drew Hutchison to a one-year contract. The Rangers aren't going anywhere fast in 2018 and could give the right-hander an extended look in the starting rotation down the stretch, beginning Sunday when he's expected to start against the Orioles ... Angels placed LHP Tyler Skaggs on the 10-day disabled list with a left adductor strain. Skaggs relayed to reporters that he was "frustrated" with the injury -- which he said he sustained during his last start -- and that he expects to miss the minimum ... Rangers placed OF Delino DeShields on the 7-day concussion disabled list. DeShields was a late scratch Friday for a headache, so this isn't completely out of the blue. He suffered a minor head injury in mid-July when he hit his head on the ground during a play in the outfield, so it's not a promising development that he's now feeling symptoms of that ...Rougned Odor homered in his third consecutive game Saturday as the Rangers bested the Orioles 3-1. Few are hotter than Odor right now, with Saturday's homer giving him three homers, eight RBI and six runs scored in his last three contests ... Joey Gallo hit a two-run home run Saturday, also his third in as many games, in the win ... Khris Davis hit his 30th homer of the season, the third consecutive year he's hit the 30-homer plateau. Of course, in each of the past two years he's gotten to 40 as well ... Dee Gordon (ankle) was not in the Mariners' lineup for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays. Gordon played Friday night but told reporters after the game that his ankle was still pretty sore. He should be back in there Sunday ... Corey Kluber threw a complete game three-hit shutout to help the Indians defeat the Angels 3-0 on Saturday. The Kluber struggles -- if you want to call them struggles -- appear to be over.