The Brewers released Lance McCullers Jr.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for assignment. He will seek another opportunity as a free agent.

Lance McCullers Jr. has been designated for assignment by the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers was picked up by the Brewers on July 15th and has now been dropped after making just two appearances. The 32-year-old will look for his next opportunity after sporting a 6.55 ERA and 1.54 WHIP on the season. Garrett Stallings was recalled in a corresponding move.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Lance McCullers Jr. will pitch out of the bullpen.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers will be available in long relief for Milwaukee. He was activated from the injured list on Friday.

The Brewers activated Lance McCullers Jr. from the injured list.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers was acquired by Milwaukee earlier this week while he was on the IL. His role and the timing of his debut remains uncertain.

Brewers GM Matt Arnold said Lance McCullers Jr.'s next outing could take the form of a major league start.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers was traded to Milwaukee on Wednesday. There should be a further update on him later this week.

The Astros are trading RHP Lance McCullers Jr. to the Milwaukee Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers is continuing to work his way back from a shoulder injury. He has posted a 6.86 ERA in eight starts so far this season. He'll look to bounce back when healthy as part of a fresh start.

McCullers (shoulder) will make his next rehab start July 17 with Double-A Corpus Christi, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers has so far logged three rehab starts, with his last taking place this past Tuesday with Triple-A Sugar Land, when he allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out four across four innings. He was a candidate to return to the Astros' rotation during the team's weekend series against the Rangers. However, McCullers requires at least one more outing in the minors but should rejoin the big club in late July following the All-Star break.

McCullers (shoulder) struck out four and allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks across four innings in a rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Sugar Land.

EDGE Analysis

In the third start of his rehab assignment, McCullers covered four innings for a second outing in a row, though he was able to push his pitch count up to 77 (43 strikes) after tossing 60 pitches in his previous appearance for Sugar Land. Though he wasn't as sharp Tuesday as he had been his previous two times out, McCullers has still fared well overall during his minor-league assignment, posting a 2.45 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB in 11 innings. The next steps for McCullers remain unclear; though the veteran right-hander is stretched back out, Astros general manager Dana Brown didn't mention him as a candidate to fill the since-demoted Mike Burrows' spot in the rotation the next time it comes up Sunday against the Rangers, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. With that in mind, McCullers may be headed for another rehab appearance Sunday before returning from the 15-day injured list following the All-Star break and potentially handling a bullpen role.

McCullers (shoulder) struck out three and allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk across four innings Wednesday in a rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land.

EDGE Analysis

McCullers has been stellar through his first two rehab outings at Sugar Land, allowing just one earned run while posting a 7:1 K:BB over seven innings. The right-hander tossed 60 pitches in Wednesday's appearance, so he'll likely need to make at least one more start in the minors before Houston brings him back from the 15-day injured list. McCullers had posted a lowly 6.86 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in eight starts for Houston before being shelved May 19 due to a rotator cuff impingement, and despite the strong form he's showed in the minors, he could face an uphill battle to reclaim a spot in a crowded big-league rotation once activated. Though the Astros have already decided that Cristian Javier (shoulder) will go to the bullpen when he returns from the 60-day IL on Friday, Ronel Blanco (elbow) has also built up to the 60-pitch mark during his rehab assignment and could be prioritized ahead of McCullers for a starting role upon his activation from the IL.

McCullers (shoulder) struck out four and allowed two hits and no walks over three scoreless innings in a rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Sugar Land.

EDGE Analysis

Pitching in a game for the first time since May 13 after being sent to the injured list due to a right rotator cuff impingement, McCullers delivered an encouraging performance. He mixed in five different offerings in the 42-pitch appearance, averaging 90.9 mph with his sinker while displaying strong control. McCullers had issued 22 free passes in 39.1 innings with the Astros prior to landing on the shelf, so keeping his walks in check in his subsequent rehab outings will be imperative if he hopes to reclaim a spot in a crowded Houston rotation once he returns from the 15-day IL. In addition to their current five starters, the Astros are expected to bring Cristian Javier (shoulder) back from the 60-day IL later this week, and Ronel Blanco (elbow) is also in the midst of a rehab assignment and could be an option for the rotation around the same time McCullers is ready for activation.