Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. Says He Received Death Threats After Start in Loss to Reds

Houston Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. said he and his family received death threats after Saturday's 13-9 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

An Astros spokesperson said the Houston Police Department and MLB have been notified about the threats, per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle.

McCullers said the threats were sent over social media, according to The Athletic's Chandler Rome.

"I understand people are very passionate, and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with," McCullers told reporters after the loss.

McCullers continued, per Kawahara: “At the end of the day, I just want to do my job and I just want to be a good pitcher for the Astros, and I believe I’ll get there.

"But like I said, I just think that having to worry about that, worry about leaving town or leaving them, or things like that, or dropping her off at school... there should be some type of decency.”

McCullers, who had last pitched in Game 3 of the 2022 World Series before missing two full MLB seasons due to injury, made his 2025 season debut last Sunday by pitching 3 2/3 scoreless innings in a loss to the Chicago White Sox.

In his second start of the season on Saturday, McCullers allowed seven earned runs in what turned into a 10-run first inning against the Reds.

Astros manager Joe Espada was visibly emotional when he said in his postgame press conference that McCullers was dealing with people "who are threatening his life and the life of his kids because of his performance."

"It's very unfortunate that we have to deal with this," Espada said. "After all he's done for this city, for this team, the fact that we have to talk about that in my office— I've got kids, too, and it really drives me nuts that we have to deal with this. Very sad. Very, very sad."

Espada continued: "Listen, he hasn't pitched in two and a half years. Two and a half years. We've got to give some time, right? Two and a half years, hasn't pitched. So, it's going to take a little bit of time to get him going."

The 31-year-old pitcher had surgery in June 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. The Astros were working toward a potential return in 2024 before he was shut down due to a setback.

Espada said McCullers would remain in his place in the Astros rotation for his next start "unless he's not feeling well," per Rome.

McCullers made his MLB debut with the Astros in 2015 and was part of the World Series winning teams in 2017 and 2022. He and his wife have two daughters.