Lance McCullers Left Off Houston Astros' ALCS Roster

HOUSTON, TX — Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. is not listed on the American League Championship Series roster released by the team Friday morning ahead of its series opener against the Boston Red Sox.

McCullers was pulled after the fourth inning of Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, with Astros manager Dusty Baker confirming after the game that it was because of forearm tightness.

Jake Odorizzi, who signed a two-year deal with the Astros in the offseason, replaces McCullers after being left off the Astros' ALDS roster.

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McCullers started Game 1 and Game 4 of the ALDS, the latter after inclement weather pushed the game back a day and allowed the right-hander to pitch on full rest. He allowed one earned run over 10 2/3 innings while striking out nine in those games.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Thursday that a forearm strain would likely cause McCullers to miss the ALCS.

Game 1 of the ALCS starts at 7:07 p.m. Friday at Minute Maid Park.

If a player is on the postseason roster for a series and has to be replaced, that player would be ineligible for the next round. If such a scenario had played out with McCullers, he would have had to miss the World Series if the Astros advanced, according to MLB rules.