HOUSTON (AP) \u2014 Astros ace Lance McCullers Jr. has been left off the team’s roster for the AL Championship Series against Boston, a huge blow to a team looking\u2026<\/b>
\nHOUSTON (AP) \u2014 Astros ace Lance McCullers Jr. has been left off Houston\u2019s roster for the AL Championship Series against Boston because of a strained muscle in arm, a huge blow to a team looking to advance to the World Series for the second time in three seasons. McCullers was great in a Game 1 win against the Chicago White Sox in the Division Series, pitching scoreless ball into the seventh. But the right-hander left Game 4 after four innings because of what the team called forearm tightness. \u201cHe\u2019s not able to throw the ball right now,\u201d manager Dusty Baker said. General manager James Click said Friday that the injury was a flexor pronator muscle strain in his right arm. Baker added that there was no structural damage, but that they aren\u2019t sure if he\u2019d be available for the World Series, should the Astros advance. He is listed as being part of Houston\u2019s taxi squad for the ALCS, but Click said that was simply so he could travel and be in the dugout for this series. \u201cSomebody else has to pick it up,\u201d Baker said. \u201cWe\u2019re not getting any sympathy or any pity from anybody. So we\u2019ve just got to find a way.\u201d Houston third baseman Alex Bregman said McCullers is heartbroken that he can\u2019t pitch in this series and the pitcher shared a similar sentiment with shortstop Carlos Correa. \u201cHe\u2019s very disappointed,\u201d Correa said. \u201cHe texted me: \u2018sorry, I couldn\u2019t keep going for you guys.’\u201d Replacing McCullers on the roster is right-hander Jake Odorizzi, who was left off the division series roster after a disappointing first season in Houston. The only other change to Houston\u2019s roster from the ALDS is the addition of left-handed reliever Blake Taylor in place of catcher Garrett Stubbs, who will be on the taxi squad. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday night in Houston. The Red Sox retained the same roster from the ALDS except for replacing pitchers Matt Barnes and Austin Davis with left-hander Darwinzon Hernandez and right-hander Hirokazu Sawamura. Both teams will have 13 pitchers, two catchers and 11 other position players for this series. ___ More AP MLB: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/MLB and https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP_Sports Copyright \u00a9 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.<\/p>\n