Hall of Fame pitcher and baseball analyst Pedro Martinez believes Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. was tipping pitches during his disastrous Game 3 start against the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series.
“Without a doubt,” Martinez said on MLB Network after the game.
Martinez explained McCullers brought his hands up as high as the World Series logo on his hat when he threw his slider, but his hands wouldn’t come nearly as high on other pitches, like his fastball.
Was Lance McCullers Jr. tipping his pitches?@45PedroMartinez breaks down how the @Phillies did damage after noticing the details 💥#MLBTonight | @CameronMaybin | #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/alFeALo3nx
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 2, 2022
“I am surprised to see it that drastic because it takes a lot less for them to pick it up when you are in the big leagues,” Martinez said.
McCullers gave up a postseason-record five home runs to the Phillies during Tuesday’s 7-0 loss.
Cameras caught Bryce Harper, who hit the game’s first home run off McCullers, whispering advice to teammate Alec Bohm before Philadelphia’s offensive explosion against the Astros starter. The footage led to speculation about McCullers tipping pitches after Bohm and three others went deep.
The pitcher said after the game he didn’t think he was giving away what pitch was coming, instead giving credit to his opponent.
“This has nothing to do with tipping,” McCullers said. “Clearly, they had a good game plan against me, and they executed better than I did.”
“I got whupped. End of story,” he continued.
