The Brewers released McCullers on Sunday.
McCullers is now officially a free agent after clearing waivers following his removal from Milwaukee's 40-man roster. The veteran right-hander has posted a 6.55 ERA and 48:27 K:BB over 44 innings covering eight starts and two relief outings between the Astros and Brewers in 2026.
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Brewers' Lance McCullers: DFA'd by Milwaukee
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The Brewers designated McCullers for assignment Sunday.
After being acquired from the Astros in mid-July, the veteran right-hander made two relief appearances for the Brewers and surrendered five runs (two earned) with a 5:5 K:BB across 4.2 innings. McCullers -- who has a 6.55 ERA and 1.55 WHIP through 10 big-league appearances in 2026 -- is likely to go unclaimed on waivers, given that Milwaukee still owes him $4.2 million for the rest of the season, per Spotrac.com.
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Brewers' Lance McCullers: Will pitch in relief role
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The Brewers activated McCullers (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
McCullers -- who has been out since mid-May with a shoulder impingement -- was acquired via trade from the Astros earlier this week and is now on the active roster after completing a rehab assignment. Manager Pat Murphy said Friday that McCullers will pitch out of the Milwaukee bullpen for the time being, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. McCullers holds a 6.86 ERA and 43:22 K:BB over 39.1 frames covering eight starts in the majors in 2026.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Trade to Milwaukee being finalized
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The Astros are in the process of finalizing a trade that will send McCullers (shoulder) to the Brewers on Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
McCullers has been on the injured list due to a shoulder impingement since mid-May, but he's made three minor-league rehab starts and may only require one more rehab outing before getting cleared for big-league action. The veteran right-hander is in the final season of the five-year, $85 million extension he signed with the Astros in 2021 and has full no-trade protection, though he's apparently already approved the potential trade, per McTaggart. After missing the full 2023 and 2024 campaigns due to arm issues, McCullers returned to the mound last year and struggled to a 6.51 ERA in 16 regular-season appearances, and he posted similar numbers before landing on the injured list this year. The full terms of the trade may not be disclosed until it's finalized.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Scheduled for another rehab start
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McCullers (shoulder) will make his next rehab start July 17 with Double-A Corpus Christi, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
McCullers has logged three rehab starts thus far, with his last taking place with Triple-A Sugar Land this past Tuesday, when he allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out four across four innings. The right-hander pushed his pitch count up to 77 in that outing, but McCullers will require at least one more outing in the minors before Houston considers adding him back to its rotation upon activating him from the 15-day injured list. McCullers has been on the shelf since May 19 due to a right shoulder impingement.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Completes third rehab start
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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.
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.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Sharp in first rehab outing
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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.
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.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Rehab assignment on tap
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McCullers (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
McCullers threw a 25-pitch live batting practice session Friday and has now been cleared for game action in the minors. The veteran right-hander has been on the shelf for a month due to shoulder inflammation and could back with the Astros after making a couple rehab starts, depending on how well he's able to build up his workload.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Completes live BP session
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McCullers (shoulder) threw a 25-pitch live batting practice session Friday at Daikin Park, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
It was the hurler's first time facing hitters since he was diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation in mid-May. The next step for McCullers will either be throwing another live batting practice session or going out on a rehab assignment. It seems McCullers could be back before the All-Star break if all goes well, but he still has several boxes to check.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Begins mound work
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Astros manager Joe Espada said Saturday that McCullers (shoulder) has resumed throwing off a mound, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
McCullers is being eased along slowly in his throwing program after landing on the shelf May 19 due to right shoulder inflammation. He still looks to be multiple weeks away from a return, as he'll need to complete multiple bullpen sessions and face live hitters before being cleared to head out on what will most likely be a multi-start minor-league rehab assignment. With both Hunter Brown (shoulder) and Cristian Javier (shoulder) poised to beat him back from the injured list, McCullers may not have a rotation spot waiting for him upon his activation. The 32-year-old righty struggled to a 6.86 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 39.1 innings in his eight starts before hitting the IL.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Starts throwing again
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The Astros announced Friday that McCullers (shoulder) began a throwing progression, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
After landing on the injured list May 19 due to right shoulder inflammation, McCullers was shut down from activity for about a week and a half before being cleared to begin ramping up again. While McCullers doesn't necessarily appear to be headed for a long-term absence, the Astros could elect to have him build up slowly as a means of buying time to decide on what his role will look like moving forward. With Hunter Brown (shoulder) tracking toward a mid-June return from the IL and with Peter Lambert and Kai-Wei Teng emerging as viable back-end starting options, the Astros may not be willing to reopen a rotation spot for McCullers once he's ready for activation. McCullers struggled mightily over his eight starts prior to landing on the shelf, posting a 6.86 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across 39.1 innings.
The Astros placed McCullers on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right shoulder inflammation, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Manager Joe Espada said McCullers' shoulder issue is something he's been dealing with for a while. The right-hander didn't bounce back from his most recent start the way the Astros had hoped, so they'll now opt to place him on the shelf and send him back to Houston for further evaluation. A timeline for his return will likely be established once his test results come back.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Scratched from start Tuesday
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McCullers has been scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday in Minnesota.
The Astros have yet to provide reasoning for the move, but an update on McCullers should be forthcoming. Jason Alexander will make a spot start Tuesday in McCullers' place.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Decent effort in no-decision
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McCullers allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Wednesday.
McCullers put in a decent effort Wednesday after his previous start was cut short by a blister on his pitching hand. This was one of his better outings this season, though he still allowed solo home runs to J.P. Crawford and Luke Raley. McCullers has a 6.86 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 43:22 K:BB through 39.1 innings over eight starts this season. He's tentatively projected for a road start in Minnesota his next time out.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Short start due to possible blister
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McCullers was removed from his start Wednesday against the Dodgers in the top of the third inning after he appeared to be contending with a blister on his pitching hand, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. He was charged with six earned runs on four hits and three walks over 2.2 innings prior to his departure.
McCullers was visited on the mound by manager Joe Espada and a team trainer at one point during his start, and though he was able to stay in the game, he continued to struggle with his control before the Astros pulled him from the contest. In addition to issuing three free passes, McCullers threw three wild pitches and found the strike zone on just 39 of his 70 pitches overall. Even if McCullers checks out fine on the health front and is ready to make his next start, the Astros may have to begin to consider moving him out of the rotation. After the disastrous outing Wednesday, McCullers's ERA now sits at 7.41 over 34 innings on the season.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Grabs win in nightcap
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McCullers (2-2) earned the win Thursday in the second game of a doubleheader with the Orioles, allowing three runs on two hits and four walks over six innings. He struck out nine.
After allowing 17 runs (15 earned) in just 14.1 innings across his previous three starts, McCullers rebounded with an impressive performance against the Orioles, matching his season high with nine strikeouts. McCullers' ERA now sits at 6.32 with a 1.40 WHIP and 33:17 K:BB across six starts (31.1 innings) this season. He'll look to build on Thursday's performance in his next outing, tentatively scheduled as a tough home matchup next week against the Dodgers.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Handed second loss
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McCullers (1-2) took the loss Friday, allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks over five-plus innings against the Yankees. He struck out three.
The right-hander was in trouble from the jump Friday, as New York scored three runs (one earned) during the opening frame. Things didn't get any better from there with the Yankees adding to McCullers' ledger in the second, fourth and sixth innings. The 32-year-old had an electric season debut March 30 versus the Red Sox with nine strikeouts and just one run allowed over seven innings, but McCullers has surrendered 18 earned runs across 18.1 frames in his four subsequent starts. Perhaps a rematch with Boston next week will help him to get back on track, but that's a risky proposition for fantasy managers given his recent form.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Allows four runs in loss
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McCullers (1-1) took the loss against the Cardinals on Saturday, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts over five innings.
McCullers allowed two runs in each of the first and third innings, throwing 58 of 91 pitches for strikes while generating 10 whiffs. After going seven strong frames in his season debut March 30, the 32-year-old has now yielded 13 earned runs across his past three starts. He'll carry a 6.20 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 21:9 K:BB across 20.1 innings into a tough home matchup against the Yankees next weekend.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Fans nine in dominant win
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McCullers (1-0) earned the win Monday against the Red Sox, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out nine over seven innings.
McCullers delivered a dominant outing, racking up 17 whiffs and cruising through six innings while facing the minimum number of batters before running into trouble in the seventh. The right-hander allowed two baserunners and an RBI double to Wilyer Abreu for his lone run but escaped the jam by striking out Masataka Yoshida on a full count with runners on second and third. It marked the 32-year-old's first time completing seven innings since 2022, a promising sign after injuries have limited his production in recent seasons, including a 6.51 ERA across 55.1 innings in 2025. McCullers will look to build off Monday's performance in his next scheduled start against a good Athletics lineup.
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Astros' Lance McCullers: Gets spot in Houston rotation
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McCullers has won a spot in the Astros' rotation and will make his season debut March 30 against the Red Sox, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
McCullers logged eight innings during Grapefruit League playing, allowing three runs with a 5:4 K:BB. He's a poor bet to stay healthy and effective, but McCullers is owed $17.7 million in his final year under contract, so it's not a surprise the Astros will open with him in the rotation.
