Astros eye short stints for McCullers

Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch does not expect Lance McCullers Jr. to rejoin the starting rotation this season when he returns from a forearm injury.

Hinch said Sunday it is unlikely McCullers, who is 10-6 with a 3.93 ERA, would be able to rebuild his stamina to the point where he could start.

“I guess never say never ’cause once you get on the mound and get going things can progress a different way, but I think the focus will be and probably should be shorter stints,” Hinch said.

McCullers has been on the disabled list since Aug. 5, one day after he left a start against the Los Angeles Dodgers early because of a muscle strain.

Hinch also said McCullers’ rehabilitation program was being slowed down because of a “continued lack of progress,” but he is still targeting September for him to resume throwing off the mound.

Hinch is not sure how he will structure his rotation down the stretch without McCullers.

Double the fun: Matt Carpenter tied a St. Louis record with four doubles Sunday against the Colorado Rockies.

Carpenter matched a franchise mark that Joe “Ducky” Medwick set on Aug. 4, 1937, against the Boston Bees (now Braves). Carpenter doubled twice in the first, had another in the third and lined his fourth in the seventh on a day when St. Louis pounded out 16 hits. The first baseman wound up 4 for 5 with two RBI.

Trammel honored: On the day his No. 3 was retired by the Detroit Tigers, Hall of Famer Alan Trammell did some campaigning for his longtime keystone partner.

Now that Trammell is in the Hall and has been honored by the Tigers, does Lou Whitaker have a chance for any of these accolades as well?

“The love that Lou has not received, it bothers me,” Trammell said after the ceremony. “I’m shocked. Hopefully, maybe this will help get a little momentum. I meant what I said, that I hope that he’s in the Hall of Fame soon, and that he also has his number retired here at Comerica Park.”