Brewers quickly move on from Lance McCullers Jr.

So much for the Lance McCullers Jr. Era for the Milwaukee Brewers.

McCullers had been acquired from the Astros along with fellow pitcher Colton Gordon for minor league utility man Jadyn Fielder on July 15. His time with the Brewers may already be over as Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal reported that McCullers has been designated for assignment.

The oft-injured McCullers was an intriguing buy-low addition for the Brewers. He had performed well when he was able to take the mound, posting a 3.39 ERA and a 1.197 WHiP in his 393.1 innings between 2018 and 2022, striking out 433 batters with 168 walks.

Lance McCullers Jr. has brief, disappointing stint with Milwaukee Brewers

However, injuries have derailed his career. McCullers missed the 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery and the 2023 and 2024 seasons due to flexor tendon and bone spur surgeries, with setbacks keeping him from returning to the Astros until 2025.

McCullers has been unable to return to the form he showed from 2018 through 2022. He had posted a 6.65 ERA and a 1.690 WHiP in his 94.2 innings with the Astros since the start of the 2025 season. Nonetheless, the Brewers took a flier that they could coax something out of McCullers.

That was not the case. He made two appearances for Milwaukee, allowing five runs, two earned, on five hits and five walks over 4.2 innings, striking out five batters. Although the Brewers had room on the 40-man roster to keep McCullers, he did not show enough to keep his spot.

Should McCullers pass through waivers, he could still attract attention if he elects free agency. He has continued to strike out over a batter an inning despite his struggles and could be an interesting reclamation project for the prorated league minimum.