Astros’ Mccullers to miss opening day; Yankees cut time with new pitch clock

Houston Astros righthander Lance Mccullers Jr. says he will miss opening day for the World Series champions because of a strained muscle in his pitching arm.

Mccullers, sidelined for the first 4 1/2 months of last season while rehabbing from a right flexor pronator strain, noticed soreness after a bullpen session last week.

He had an MRI on Tuesday night. He told reporters Wednesday that it showed no structural damage to his elbow but will delay his start.

“I’ve been a little bit upset,” the 29-year-old said. “I was really looking forward to a great start to the camp and a great start to the season.”

Mccullers described the injury as a “small muscle strain.”

“It will set me back a little bit, but it shouldn’t be anything like last year,” he said. “It should be something where hopefully I’m playing catch in s couple weeks.”

Being ready for opening day, he said, “is out of the question.”

“Because of the nature of building up through spring and the number of bullpens you need and then obviously, games, the smartest thing would be to go at a slow pace and then come back and still have the ability to throw the majority of the full season.” he said.

TIME SAVER>> Yankees starting pitchers Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Luis Severino along with reliever Michael King threw two innings apiece in a simulated game with a Triple-a umpire behind the plate and the new pitch clock ticking away.

The result was each half inning averaged around two minutes shorter than in previous years. And there were only a couple violations.

“I feel like these first few days, from that standpoint, has been a success,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “It’s something that I’ve kind of been beating them over their head with. I think that’s what was good about having an umpire here today where you can have that casual interaction and that feedback.”

BELTRÁN MUM ON CHEATING>>

Carlos Beltrán talked to reporters on his first day back with the Mets organization Wednesday. But he didn’t want to talk about the Houston Astros and cheating.

Beltran joined the Mets last week as a special assistant to general manager Billy Eppler.

On Nov. 1, 2019, Beltrán was hired by the Mets to replace Mickey Callaway as manager. But the team announced Beltrán’s departure the following Jan. 16 without him managing a game.

Beltrán’s departure was announced three days after he was the only Astros player mentioned by name in Major League Baseball’s report that concluded that Houston broke rules by using electronics to steal signs on the way to the 2017 World Series title.

“I felt like that was a moment that needed to happen, and I moved on,” Beltrán said.

But that was about all he wanted to say about that.

“Today’s not about the Astros,” Beltrán said Wednesday. “Today is about the Mets.”

The 45-year- old Beltrán was a nine-time All- Star who played with the Mets from 2005-11 and is sixth on the team’s career list for homers (149) and RBIS (559).

He said he never expected to return to the team.