MLB Player News

Lynn (5-4) picked up the win in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cubs, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six.

The Cardinals struck for nine runs in the bottom of the first inning, letting Lynn cruise to his sixth quality start of the season on 99 pitches (68 strikes). The veteran right-hander is closing in on an impressive milestone, as he sits two strikeouts away from 2,000 for his career, a mark only five other active pitchers -- Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Chris Sale and Gerrit Cole -- have reached. Lynn's won three of his last four starts, but the fourth was an ugly outing July 6 against the Nationals in which he got tagged for 11 runs (10 earned) in 2.2 innings. He'll take a 4.39 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 92:37 K:BB through 96.1 innings into the All-Star break.

Wrobleski did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Tigers, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over five innings.

Wrobleski allowed two runs in the second inning and then two more on back-to-back homers to open the fifth. He generated only six swinging strikes on 84 pitches while leaning mostly on his fastball and slider. The rookie has surrendered eight runs (seven earned) and four long balls through his first two starts and his role moving forward depends on the health of the Dodgers' rotation after the All-Star break.

Spiers (shoulder) had a clean MRI on Saturday, and he is likely to miss only one start, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Spiers landed on the 10-day injured list Saturday after notching a victory against the Marlins on Friday, but he looks to have avoided a serious injury. The right Reds are listing his right shoulder issue as an impingement, with an MRI seemingly ruling out a strain or structural damage. Spiers is eligible to return from the IL on July 28, which could line him up to make his next start either in Tampa Bay or at home versus the Cubs.

Washington optioned Rutledge to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.

Rutledge was solid in a spot start Friday, allowing two runs while striking out six batters over 4.2 innings against the Brewers. However, he'll head back down to the minors to make room for reliever Eduardo Salazar on the big-league roster. With Rutledge's demotion, the Nationals currently have only four healthy starters, and it's not yet certain how they'll fill the fifth rotation spot following the All-Star break, though that role could go back to DJ Herz, who had been starting for the team before being sent down to Triple-A on July 8.

The Rockies optioned Gordon to Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Gordon was demoted after surrendering four homers while giving up six runs over three-plus innings against the Mets on Friday. The right-hander has yielded a total of 11 earned runs over 9.1 frames across his first two major-league starts and will get a chance to reset at Triple-A. Colorado also placed Nolan Jones (back) on the IL on Saturday while recalling outfielder Sean Bouchard and reliever Angel Chivilli from the minors. Gordon's short-lived spot in the big-league rotation will be assumed by German Marquez (elbow), who is set to return from the injured list to make his season debut Sunday.

The Reds placed Spiers on the 15-day injured list due to a right shoulder impingement Saturday.

Spiers notched a career-high nine punchouts over five innings in a win over Miami on Friday, but he apparently hurt his shoulder in the process. The right-hander's move to the IL means he won't be eligible to return until July 28. Cincinnati called up reliever Tony Santillan from Triple-A in a corresponding move, but it's not clear who will take Spiers' spot in the rotation following the All-Star break.

The Cubs reinstated Assad (forearm) from the 15-day injured list Saturday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

A forearm strain has kept Assad on the IL since June 27, but he'll now return to start the second game of Chicago's doubleheader versus the Cardinals. The 26-year-old righty owns a 3.04 ERA and 1.28 WHIP through 16 starts on the year, though his numbers jump up to a 5.04 ERA and 1.56 WHIP across his five most recent outings. He'll officially serve as the Cubs' 27th man for Saturday's twin bill, though he'll presumably remain with the team following his start.

Hicks said after Thursday's loss to the Blue Jays that his body "in general is just feeling it a little bit more than in past seasons," NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Hicks has already surged past his previous career high in innings with 95 after previously topping out at 77.2 frames as a rookie in 2018. After a brilliant start to his tenure in San Francisco, Hicks has struggled lately, posting a 6.08 ERA and 1.78 WHIP over his last eight starts. There have been no indications that Hicks will be limited in the immediate future, but the Giants may need to find ways to ease his workload down the stretch to keep the 27-year-old from wearing down completely in his return to a starting role.

Harrison (5-4) earned the win over the Twins on Friday, allowing one run on five hits and a walk while striking out three over 5.1 innings.

Harrison allowed four runs on four hits and four walks over 3.1 innings against the Guardians in his first start back from the injured list July 6, so this was a sizable step forward. For the year, Harrison is at a 4.08 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 73:27 K:BB over 86 innings spanning 16 starts. The 22-year-old lefty built up to 83 pitches Friday after throwing 72 pitches in his first start back, and he is tentatively in line for two starts (@LAD, vs. COL) in the first full week after the All-Star break.

Marquez (elbow) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the Mets, The Denver Post reports.

Sunday will mark Marquez's first time pitching in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2023. The 29-year-old made six rehab starts, posting a 6.23 ERA and 1.50 WHIP alongside a 23:4 K:BB across 17.1 innings between Colorado's minor-league affiliates. He's expected to throw 75-to-90 pitches during his season debut and will be matched up against a New York offense that ranks third in the NL with a .742 OPS.