MLB Player News

Lugo allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out three over six innings a no-decision Friday against the Padres.

Lugo recorded six strong innings on 93 pitches but did not factor into the decision against San Diego. The two runs Lugo allowed crossed the plate on the same play due to a fielding error by Michael Massey, which allowed both Ty France and Miguel Andujar to score in the top of the fifth. After making his 20th start of the year, the 36-year-old Lugo now maintains a 4.39 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 89:36 K:BB through 110.2 innings this season. Lugo is in line to make his next start Wednesday against the Giants.

Sale (10-6) earned the win against the Rangers on Friday, allowing two hits while striking out six across seven scoreless innings. He did not issue a walk.

The veteran southpaw was sharp in Atlanta's first game since the All-Star break. He limited the Rangers to just two hits and retired 13 straight batters from the third to seventh frames, ending his night with 16 whiffs on just 89 total pitches. It was the 11th quality start of the season for Sale, whose 2.06 ERA (across 105 innings) is third best among qualified starters in the majors behind Jacob Misiorowski (1.62) and Cam Schlittler (2.05). Sale is lined up to face the Padres at home next week.

Manager Craig Counsell said Friday that the Cubs expect Cabrera (hamstring) to return from the injured list in the second week of August, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

A left hamstring strain sent Cabrera to the IL on June 24, and he was cleared to start up a throwing program about a week before the All-Star break. He still has several hurdles to clear, but barring any setbacks, he should return to Chicago's rotation in time to contribute toward the team's postseason push.

Manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Taillon (hamstring) will return from the injured list during the Cubs' upcoming series against the Tigers, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

It's still unknown exactly which game of the series Taillon will start, but the Cubs should announce their pitching plans later this weekend. The 34-year-old righty has been on the shelf since June 9 due to a strained left hamstring but was cleared to begin pitching in minor-league games July 5. He gave up just one walk and one hit while striking out three batters in 4.2 shutout innings during his most recent outing at Triple-A Iowa but threw just 53 pitches, so he could have a workload restriction in place while he makes his second-half debut.

Kolek (personal) will make a rehab start Saturday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Kolek has been on the Family Medical Emergency List since early July. Saturday's rehab outing will likely be his only one, and he could return to the Royals for their next series against the Giants that starts Monday. Kolek went 4-3 across 10 starts in the first half of the regular season, posting a 4.50 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 34:12 K:BB across 54 innings.

Manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that Soroka (glute) is in line to return from the injured list sometime around early August, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

The plan is for Soroka to throw a couple more bullpen sessions Saturday and Tuesday before pitching in a simulated game the following Saturday (July 25). The D-backs have already confirmed the right-hander will make at least one rehab start before returning to the big-league rotation, which will push his next start with Arizona into next month. An exact date for his second-half debut will likely emerge as he continues to check off boxes in his throwing program.

Lively (elbow) tossed a live bullpen Wednesday and is scheduled for another session Monday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Lively continues to progress in his recovery from a UCL reconstruction and flexor tendon repair that he underwent in May of 2025. He inked a minor-league contract with the Guardians in mid-February, and it appears he's not far from embarking on a rehab assignment. That means Lively could be available for the Guardians for the final weeks of the 2026 regular season.

Eovaldi is dealing with an illness but is lined up to start against Atlanta on Sunday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

It looks like Eovaldi picked something up over the All-Star break, but he may not end up missing significant time as long as he's cleared to start in Sunday's series finale. The veteran right-hander posted a 9-7 record across 18 starts in the first half of the regular season, along with a 4.04 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 120:26 K:BB across 111.1 innings.

DeGrom (glute) will throw a bullpen session Saturday and will likely make his next start during the Rangers' home series against the White Sox that begins Monday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Landry initially reported Thursday that deGrom was lined up to face Atlanta on Sunday, but it looks like the veteran right-hander needs a little bit more time to recover. He is dealing with a mild left glute strain that he picked up prior to the All-Star break, but the injury is not severe enough for him to require a stint on the injured list.

Bennett (5-3) picked up the win in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Rays, scattering one hit and one walk over six scoreless innings. He struck out three.

Tampa Bay never got a runner into scoring position against the rookie southpaw, as Bennett tossed an extremely efficient 65 pitches (42 strikes) before being lifted with Boston comfortably ahead 9-0 to begin the seventh inning. Bennett has delivered five straight quality starts dating back to June 22, a stretch in which he sports an astounding 0.82 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 25:4 K:BB over 33 innings. He'll look to stay dialed in for his next trip to the mound, which is set to come at home next week against the Orioles.