The Milwaukee Brewers are taking a chance on Lance McCullers Jr. and want to see if he is going to fit into whatever role he is given.
The Milwaukee Brewers are set to begin a nine-game homestand that starts with the Miami Marlins to kick off the second half of the season, and the team is welcoming right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. to the rotation.
McCullers was acquired from the Houston Astros on Wednesday alongside left-hander Colton Gordon and cash in exchange for outfielder Jadyn Fielder. Ahead of Friday’s game against the Marlins, McCullers spoke with Adam McCalvy of MLB.com and other members of the media.
"Yeah, no, I'm excited to be here," McCullers said. "You know, now with the new rules, you know, you get to see teams more often. So, you know, played the Brewers the last few years. I've always really respected the way that they play. They're a hard-nosed group. Reminds me a lot of the, you know, previous teams that have had a lot of success that I've been on.
"So, I think that all of that was a part of, you know, the willingness to, you know, wave the no- trade," he added. "I feel like it's a good opportunity for me. Get to come to a, you know, great winning club that has, you know, World Series aspirations. And so, I'm excited to be a part of that."
Tough times for McCullers
Before the trade, the Astros were the only pro club McCullers had been a part of after the former selected him with the 41st pick of the Competitive Balance-A round of the 2012 MLB Draft. Early in his career, McCullers was at his peak.
He became an All-Star and a two-time World Series champion with Houston, but the last few years have proven to be difficult.
In June 2023, McCullers underwent surgery to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. In 2024, McCullers suffered a setback in his recovery, and by August 2024, he was officially shut down for the remainder of the season.
McCullers finally returned to the rotation on May 4, 2025, and he appeared in 16 games (13 starts). McCullers struggled, and by the end of the season, he had posted a 2-5 record and a 6.51 ERA.
The 2026 season for McCullers has not gone any better. In eight starts, he has a 2-3 record with a 6.86 ERA in 39.1 innings of work. He has not pitched since May 13 due to right shoulder inflammation, but he is coming to Milwaukee in a better place physically.
"I feel good," McCullers said. "I feel good. I had three rehab starts. You know, got up to almost 80 pitches my last start. Not sure what the role will be here moving forward. But, you know, I've always, you know, one thing I've always tried to hang my hat on is, you know, to be a great clubhouse guy.
"Do what I can for the team to, you know, help them win," he added. "And whatever they ask of me, that's what I'll do."
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