MLB Player News

Gore (3-4) earned the win Friday over Seattle, allowing one run on four hits and one walk over seven innings. He struck out eight.

After allowing a home run to J.P. Crawford to lead off the game, Gore rebounded to blank the Mariners over his final six frames. It's the third straight quality start for Gore and the first time he's made it through seven innings this season. The 25-year-old southpaw lowered his ERA to 3.04 with a 1.29 WHIP and 62:17 K:BB over 53.1 innings. Gore will look to stay hot in his next start, currently slated for a tough road matchup in Atlanta.

Imanaga and the Cubs won't play the Cardinals on Friday due to inclement weather, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Thursday's contest will be made up as part of a doubleheader July 13, and Imanaga's next outing will be pushed back to Chicago's upcoming series in Milwaukee early next week, per Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Falter (3-2) earned the win Friday over Atlanta, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk over 7.1 innings. He struck out four.

Ronald Acuna broke up Falter's shutout bid with a three-run homer in the eighth. The southpaw has pitched into the eighth inning in back-to-back outings while delivering three straight quality starts, lowering his ERA to 3.55 with a 0.98 WHIP and 33:14 K:BB across 10 starts (58.1 innings) this season. Falter's currently lined up for a road matchup with the Blue Jays in his next outing.

Urquidy (forearm) was removed from his rehab start at Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday with an apparent injury, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Urquidy was only able to lob a warm-up pitch after receiving a visit from a trainer, causing him to be taken out of the game after 56 pitches. He appeared to be flexing his hand as he walked toward the dugout, though the Astros should offer more information on what is bothering him in the near future.

Cole (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Saturday, Chris Kirschner of The Athleticreports.

It will be the second time Cole has faced live hitters, with his first session taking place Tuesday when he threw about 20 pitches. While Cole is eligible to return from the 60-day IL at the end of May, he'll need multiple rehab starts before joining the Yankees' rotation.

Smith-Shawver was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain Friday, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Smith-Shawver was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier Friday, though a Grade 2 strain likely means a six-to-eight-week recovery timeline. The 21-year-old righty was called up Thursday to make a spot start against the Cubs, and Atlanta's pitching needs will likely dictate whether he remains in Atlanta or heads to Triple-A Gwinnett once he returns from the IL -- likely sometime in July.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Friday that Means will get a second opinion on his throwing elbow, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Means threw just three innings in his start Wednesday against the Cardinals, and he did not return to the mound following a rain delay. He landed on the 15-day injured list Thursday due to a left forearm strain, which was the same injury that caused him to start the season on the IL. Seeing that Means is getting a second opinion on the injury, the 31-year-old southpaw could be on the IL beyond the 15-day minimum.

Gray (elbow) will throw a two-inning live batting practice Saturday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Gray continues to recover from a flexor strain in his right elbow that has kept him out of action since April 4. His session Saturday is the next step in his throwing program, and if all goes well, the Nationals could look to send the 26-year-old right-hander on a rehab assignment.

Ray (elbow) will throw live batting practice Saturday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Ray began throwing bullpen sessions during spring training, but Saturday will mark the first time he has faced hitters since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May of 2023. The 32-year-old southpaw still isn't expected to pitch for the Giants until around the All-Star break, but he appears to be trending in the right direction. He will throw a few additional rounds of live BP before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment, at which point a firmer return date could become clear.

Wicks (forearm) is making a rehab start at Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Wicks started throwing off a mound a week ago and has made it through several bullpen sessions without a setback. He may need to make one or two additional starts at Iowa before rejoining the Cubs. Wicks owns a 4.70 ERA across five starts this season with Chicago.