The Milwaukee Brewers designated Lance McCullers Jr. for assignment Sunday, less than two weeks after acquiring the right-hander from the Houston Astros. The move came a day after McCullers walked four batters in 1⅔ innings of relief during an 8-5 win over the Colorado Rockies.

McCullers, 32, went 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two relief appearances for Milwaukee, striking out five and walking five over 4⅔ innings. The bullpen role was new for the veteran, who had started 148 of 154 career games with Houston. Acquired on July 15 along with left-hander Colton Gordon for minor league outfielder Jadyn Fielder, McCullers carried a $4,227,273 salary offset from the Astros, leaving $2.5 million as the Brewers' cost.

McCullers was on the injured list with shoulder inflammation at the time of the trade and had posted a 6.86 ERA in eight starts for Houston this season. A two-time World Series champion (2017, 2022), injuries sidelined him for the 2019, 2023, and 2024 seasons. The Brewers recalled right-hander Garrett Stallings from Triple-A Nashville to fill the roster spot; Stallings has a 4.11 ERA in 18 appearances for Nashville this year.