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<p>Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. is set to make his return to the mound against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, marking his first MLB appearance since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series almost 30 months ago.</p><br />
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<p>"I'm really excited to have him on the mound on Sunday," said Astros manager Joe Espada. "He's worked incredibly hard to get back to this point, and the entire team and city should be thrilled to have Lance back."</p><br />
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<p>McCullers missed the 2023 season due to surgery on his right flexor tendon and a bone spur. After a setback last summer, he has made four appearances this year, two of which were with Triple-A Corpus Christi.</p><br />
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<p>In his recent outings, McCullers has shown slightly reduced fastball velocity but has been focusing on his changeups and curveballs. The 31-year-old has a solid career record in the MLB and is a former All-Star.</p><br />
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<p>The Astros are currently second in the AL West with a 16-14 record and will face the White Sox after a day off on Thursday.</p><br />
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