On his walk back from the Dodger Stadium mound to the first-base dugout at the end of his last start, Lance McCullers Jr. pointed with his glove to his inner forearm.



The visual provoked the worst fears about the extent of the Astros’ starter’s injury, the latest in a series that have interrupted the 25-year-old right-hander’s young career. This was the night of Aug. 4, his 22nd start of another strong season. His alarming exit came literally an out after he set a career-high in innings pitched for a season at 126.



A couple of days later, Houston manager A.J. Hinch alleviated a fanbase’s concerns when he described McCullers’ injury as a muscle strain. The team expressed confidence that McCullers’ season wasn’t over, that he would return in September. By late August, it was decided that return would consist of only short stints out of the bullpen.



McCullers came back to pitch in relief but not until the final week of...