MILWAUKEE -- Lance McCullers Jr.’s stay in Milwaukee ended almost as quickly as it began.
The Brewers designated the veteran right-hander for assignment before Sunday’s series finale against the Rockies, just 11 days after acquiring him from the Astros. Right-hander Garrett Stallings was recalled from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move.
McCullers made only two appearances for Milwaukee, both out of the bullpen, posting a 3.86 ERA with five strikeouts and five walks across 4 2/3 innings.
His final outing came during Saturday’s 8-5 win over Colorado. McCullers entered with the Brewers leading 7-2 in the eighth inning and returned for the ninth, but he allowed a hit and issued two walks before closer Trevor Megill was summoned to record the final out.
The relief role represented unfamiliar territory for McCullers, who had started 148 of his 154 career appearances with Houston.
Milwaukee acquired McCullers and left-hander Colton Gordon from the Astros on July 15 in exchange for Minor League outfielder Jadyn Fielder. McCullers was on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation at the time of the trade and was activated two days later.
Houston also sent Milwaukee approximately $4.23 million to cover most of McCullers’ remaining salary, leaving the Brewers responsible for $2.5 million. Gordon, a 27-year-old left-hander, remains in the organization and is with Triple-A Nashville.
Before the trade, McCullers spent his whole MLB career in Houston, going 53-40 with a 3.85 ERA and contributing to the Astros’ World Series championship teams in 2017 and ’22. Injuries prevented him from pitching in 2019, ’23 and ’24, and he went 2-3 with a 6.86 ERA across eight starts for Houston this season.
The Brewers now have seven days to trade McCullers or place him on outright waivers. If he clears waivers, he can reject an outright assignment and elect free agency.
Stallings returns to Milwaukee after tossing three scoreless innings across two appearances earlier this month. He has made 18 appearances, including 13 starts, for Nashville this season, posting a 3.70 ERA.