MLB Player News

Imanaga (5-8) took the loss against the Reds on Friday, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out five across five innings.

Imanaga allowed at least one baserunner in each of the first four innings he pitched, but he did just enough to keep the Reds off the board. That scoreless effort came to an end on an Elly De La Cruz solo homer in the fifth, and while that was the only run Imanaga gave up Friday, he was still tagged with the loss as his Cubs teammates failed to score a run. Imanaga went through a rough patch from mid-May to early June, but he's given up two earned runs or less in five of his last six outings, posting a 2.81 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 32 innings in that span. He enters the All-Star break with a 4.17 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 105:27 K:BB across 108 innings.

Greene (1-1) earned the win against the Cubs on Friday, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out 12 across seven innings.

Greene was roughed up for eight runs in his 2026 debut against the Orioles this past Saturday, but he looked like his old self in Friday's home game. He struck out the side in the sixth inning and limited the Cubs to just four baserunners, and his 12 punchouts were tied for the second-most in his major-league career, the fourth time he's reached that mark. Friday was almost certainly Greene's final outing before the All-Star break, and his return to the rotation is key for a Reds team looking to make a late playoff push for the second half of the 2026 season.

Burnes (elbow/side) was cleared to begin a throwing program Friday after an MRI showed signs of healing, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Burnes has been on the injured list since June 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, though his time on the shelf was extended when he suffered a teres major strain while throwing to live hitters last month. Now that he's made encouraging progress in his recovery from both injuries, he's been given the green light to restart a throwing progam. It will take him a while to ramp up after missing more than a full season, though the team hasn't yet shut the door on Burnes returning before the end of the year.

Ashcraft and the Pirates won't face the Brewers on Friday, as the game was postponed due to rain.

The Pirates and Brewers will play a doubleheader Saturday to make up Friday's contest, and Ashcraft will toe the slab during the earlier game, per Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com. The 26-year-old righty has collected a win in each of his last four starts while posting a 3.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 32:6 K:BB across 23.2 innings.

Sproat and the Brewers won't face the Pirates on Friday, as the game was postponed due to rain.

The two sides will make up Friday's contest during a doubleheader Saturday, and the Brewers will send Sproat to the mound to start Game 1, per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The 25-year-old righty has begun to turn things around as of late, giving up two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts while posting a 2.88 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 30:8 K:BB across 25 innings in that span.

The Giants optioned Whisenhunt to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday.

Whisenhunt gave up two runs in 5.2 innings during his spot start against Colorado on Thursday, but he'll now return to the minors in order to make room for Keaton Winn's (elbow) return from the injured list. Whisenhunt now owns a 3.38 ERA and 1.41 WHIP through 10.2 frames in the majors this season, and he could be an option to return to San Francisco later in the year if the big club's rotation depth is tested.

Henderson (elbow) has been cleared to begin a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.

Henderson has been sidelined all season after coming into spring training with a flexor strain. He's progressed enough in his rehab to test things out in games and should eventually join the rotation at Triple-A Memphis once he's deemed ready. Henderson has excelled in his two seasons in the minors, most recently holding a 2.59 ERA and 134:51 K:BB over 132 innings covering 25 starts with Double-A Springfield in 2025.

Ritchie will start Sunday's game in St. Louis, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

He's taking over the rotation spot vacated by Hurston Waldrep, who was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. Ritchie has made seven starts and three relief outings with the big club this season, turning in a 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 42:28 K:BB over 45 innings. Ritchie hasn't handled a normal starter's workload for nearly two weeks and threw 35 pitches in relief Thursday, so he'll likely be on a limited pitch count Sunday.

Atlanta optioned Waldrep to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.

Waldrep looked rusty in two starts and one relief appearance during his first stint with the big club this season, posting an 8.44 ERA, 2.16 WHIP and 9:10 K:BB over 10.2 innings. The young right-hander could eventually get another chance in the Atlanta rotation after the All-Star break, but he'll try to sharpen up at Gwinnett first. JR Ritchie is entering the rotation in Waldrep's place.

Mathews continued a terrific stretch at Triple-A Memphis with seven strikeouts over seven shutout innings in Thursday's start versus Gwinnett.

Mathews had an up-and-down first two months of the season but has been on a roll since the start of June, posting a 1.83 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 45:15 K:BB over 39.1 frames covering seven starts. His 10.3 percent walk rate during that span remains a tad high, but it's greatly improved from the 18.2 percent mark he had in his first 10 outings. Mathews is not on the Cardinals' 40-man roster, but he looks ready for a chance at the big-league level sooner rather than later.