The Milwaukee Brewers made a surprising roster move Sunday morning, designating right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. for assignment — a decision that came fewer than two weeks after the team traded for him from the Houston Astros.
The decision followed a rough outing for McCullers on Saturday, when he surrendered three runs on one hit and four walks while recording just five outs in Milwaukee’s 8-5 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Since arriving in Milwaukee, McCullers had made two relief appearances, posting a 3.86 ERA. He came to the Brewers on July 15 as part of a deal that also included left-hander Colton Gordon and cash, with Milwaukee sending minor league outfielder Jadyn Fielder to Houston in return.
On the season as a whole, McCullers has struggled, going 2-3 with a 6.55 ERA across 10 appearances — eight of which were starts — covering just 44 innings pitched.
The 32-year-old has had a decorated career, earning an All-Star selection in 2017 and capturing World Series championships in both 2017 and 2022. Over 156 career appearances — 148 as a starter — with the Astros and Brewers, he holds a 53-40 record and a 3.85 ERA. However, his career has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries, causing him to miss the entire 2019, 2023, and 2024 seasons.
Also on Sunday, the Brewers recalled right-hander Garrett Stallings from Triple-A Nashville to bolster the roster. With Nashville’s Sounds this season, Stallings went 3-3 with a 4.11 ERA in 18 appearances, including 13 starts. He also made two earlier appearances with Milwaukee this year, throwing three scoreless innings in those outings.
