AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: ASTROS VS RED SOX

October 16, 2021

Lance McCullers,

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. They told us about your diagnosis yesterday. When do you think you'll be able to pick up a ball, and are you holding out hope you could pitch in the World Series?

LANCE McCULLERS JR.: We're just going to have to see how I progress, see how I'm feeling over the next couple of days. We're fighting against time a little bit. I've got to be able to throw before I just pitch in a game. So today is a better day than yesterday was, and so hopefully those days keep adding up, and we can see where I'm at.

Q. Lance, can you give us a little bit more clarity on how it happened? Was it on a pitch? Did you feel something in Game 4, or did you feel something going into the start? I guess what happened there?

LANCE McCULLERS JR.: No, I felt fine going into the start. A little bit on a short week, short rest. I don't think I was probably 100% as normal, but I felt good to go into the start. I felt like I had good velocity, good everything. And then I was facing Sheets there in the fourth, and I had a curveball gripped, and we ended up going with a slider. So I was moving it in my glove as I was in the wind-up versus having it preset before I went. And so I just kind of got around the ball a little too much, and then threw the slider, and felt my forearm kind of -- I don't know how to explain it -- kind of go a little bit.

So I finished the inning, but it took me probably the rest of that Sheets at-bat and the Garcia at-bat to feel a little bit better to be able to get Hernández out.

Q. I think we all understand what you've poured into this to be a part of this team and lead this rotation. Just how are you able to kind of handle this and process all that you've going through right now, Lance?

LANCE McCULLERS JR.: It kind of sucks, to be honest, but we got a job to do, and the guys did a great job last night. The bullpen has been throwing fantastic. A lot of confidence in Luis today and Urquidy and the other guys in this rotation that are going to have to step up, throw big innings. It's tough. I want to be out there. I feel like in a way I've kind of let the guys down. I know I can't do anything about it, but it feels that way to me.

It's been a tough couple of days, but I can help lead this team in more ways than just pitching. Help the guys with the scouting reports, watching the game, trying to pick up on what I can. I can be there for them in more ways than one.

Q. Lance, Alex said you're heartbroken. That was one word I've heard. Can you describe your emotion? Are you devastated through all this?

LANCE McCULLERS JR.: Yeah. I think Alex sums it up pretty good.

Q. I know you touched on it a little bit, and, obviously, you would rather be out there pitching, but how important is it to you and how valuable is it that you still get to be with the team and kind of be a part of this while you're out?

LANCE McCULLERS JR.: I didn't really want to be up here because it's not about me. It's about the team. We had a great Game 1 win last night. Looking for a Game 2 win today. There's no reason for me to depress everyone's timelines with my comments, so I'm just going to be out there for the guys. I am sad that I can't be out there, but, like I said, I went through the scouting report with some of the guys yesterday before the game, you know, did a lot of video work yesterday, been talking with Maldi. So there are things that I can do beyond just pitching.

Obviously that's what I normally do and I'm probably more of a leader by action than words at times, but I can be there for these guys in any capacity, you know, so that's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to be a good teammate, and I'm trying to play a part. It's a very small part at this point at least in this series, but being there for them and just cheering them on.