MILWAUKEE — The Dallas Keuchel experiment in Milwaukee appears to be coming to an end.
The former Cy Young Award winner, acquired from Seattle in late June for cash considerations, was designated for assignment on Sunday. During Saturday’s game, Keuchel (Arkansas Razorbacks) surrendered five consecutive hits to start the fourth inning, causing the Brewers to lose an early five-run lead in a 6-5 defeat against the Nationals.
In his four starts with the Brewers, Keuchel posted a 5.40 ERA, allowing 10 runs and 23 hits over 16 2/3 innings without earning a decision. The 36-year-old left-hander managed to get past the fourth inning only once, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits over 5 1/3 innings in his second start against Colorado.
Milwaukee gave Keuchel a 5-0 lead in the first inning on Saturday, but he was removed after allowing five hits and three runs without recording an out in the fourth inning, ending with eight hits over a 65-pitch outing.
The Brewers are anticipating the return of several injured pitchers after the All-Star break, which influenced the decision.
“Obviously, Dallas has a great pedigree, and he kept us in a lot of games,” Brewers General Manager Matt Arnold said on Sunday. “He did a really good job for us. … It comes down to the number of players we have coming back.”
The Brewers have seven days to either negotiate a trade involving Keuchel or see if he clears waivers. Keuchel also has the option to reject an outright assignment and become a free agent.
“We spoke to him last night,” Arnold said. “He was great, he’s a real pro. Obviously, we want what’s best for him.”
Keuchel, who won the 2015 AL Cy Young with Houston, had a 7-4 record with a 3.93 ERA this season with the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate Tacoma before being acquired by Milwaukee.
In 2023, Keuchel pitched in 10 games, including six starts, with Minnesota, finishing with a 2-1 record and a 5.97 ERA. In 2022, he was 2-9 with a 9.20 ERA in 14 starts across three different teams.
Over his 13-year major league career, Keuchel holds a 103-92 record with a 4.04 ERA and two All-Star appearances. He was 20-8 with a 2.43 ERA with Houston in 2015 when he won the Cy Young.
