MLB Player News

The Mets announced that Blackburn (shoulder) is expected to move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.

Blackburn is ready for a tougher test after he opened his rehab assignment last Thursday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, where he struck out eight and allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks over 3.2 innings. Though the Mets appear to be letting Blackburn build up as a starter during his rehab assignment, he could be ticketed for a long-relief role once he's activated from the 15-day injured list.

Fried (finger) is in line to start Wednesday's game in Toronto, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Fried developed a blister on his left index finger during his final start before the All-Star break back on July 12 versus the Cubs, but the extended break has seemingly allowed him to move past the issue. After he resumed playing catch shortly after suffering the finger issue, Fried cleared up any lingering concern about his health by tossing a bullpen session in Atlanta over the weekend. The veteran southpaw heads into his start Wednesday having logged an 11-3 record with a 2.43 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 122 innings over his first 20 outings of the season.

Blalock is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Cardinals at Coors Field.

Called up from Triple-A Albuquerque earlier this month, Blalock ended up taking over the spot in the rotation that previously belonged to rookie Chase Dollander, who was optioned to the minors following a string of poor performances. Though he had posted a 12.94 ERA and 2.06 WHIP over his first five big-league appearances of the season, Blalock acquitted himself well in his start during the Rockies' final series before the All-Star break, holding the Reds to one earned run on six hits and no walks over 5.2 innings. The right-hander will be rewarded with another turn through the rotation, but he doesn't profile as a dependable streaming option, given his poor overall track record in the majors.

Daniel is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Giants in Atlanta, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Daniel will be making his second straight turn through the Atlanta rotation after he was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett on July 13 to start the big club's final game before the All-Star break. Though he took a no-decision and was limited to just 73 pitches in Atlanta's 5-4 loss to St. Louis, Daniel performed well in the start, striking out five while yielding one earned run on two hits and three walks in four innings. Daniel should be operating with fewer restrictions with his pitch count Tuesday and could stake a more permanent claim to a rotation spot with a strong showing against the Giants.

Cabrera (elbow) will start Tuesday's game against the Padres in Miami, MLB.com reports.

Cabrera experienced elbow discomfort during his final start before the All-Star break July 11 in Baltimore, but an MRI cleared him of any major damage, and he was able to throw without issue Thursday and Sunday. With the long layoff in the Marlins' schedule affording him ample time to recover, Cabrera is unlikely to be operating with any major workload restrictions Tuesday. Before giving up four earned runs in four innings in his most recent start, Cabrera permitted no more than two runs in any of his prior 11 outings and accrued a 2.11 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 60:19 K:BB in 59.2 innings during that stretch.

The Cubs are expected to recall Brown from Triple-A Iowa prior to Monday's game against the Royals, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Right-hander Ryan Brasier will open the game on the mound for Chicago, but he'll likely work just one or two innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. Rogers speculates that Brown could be tasked with covering multiple frames behind Brasier, though Chris Flexen is also available to work in bulk relief after having not pitched since making a four-inning start versus the Yankees on July 11. The Cubs will have a permanent opening in the rotation until Jameson Taillon (calf) returns from the injured list, but the team could look to the trade market to fill the void ahead of the July 31 deadline rather than counting on Brown to reclaim a starting role. In 16 outings (14 starts) with the Cubs this season, Brown owns a 6.13 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 79.1 innings.

Lucas (undisclosed) struck out three while giving up one hit and one walk over three scoreless innings Saturday in Triple-A Buffalo's 3-2 win over Omaha after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list earlier in the day.

Lucas had started in six of his previous seven appearances with Buffalo prior to being shelved with the unspecified injury, but he was used out of the bullpen in his return to action Saturday, working in tandem with CJ Van Eyk, who covered the first 3.1 innings. Before his recent absence due to the injury, Lucas had made five appearances (four starts) for Toronto earlier this season, logging a 5.82 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 21.2 innings. Unless additional injuries strike the Toronto rotation, Lucas likely won't be in line for a starting assignment with the big club in the near future.

Marquez was lifted after three innings in his start in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Twins due to right shoulder inflammation, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports. "I'm feeling a little bit of inflammation in the front of my shoulder," Marquez said after the game. "It started bugging me when I pitched in Cincinnati [on July 11] and I didn't recover well. I couldn't get hot. And my [velocity] was down, too."

Marquez dropped to 3-11 on the season Sunday, allowing three earned runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two in the 58-pitch outing. Though Marquez noted that he doesn't have a history of shoulder inflammation and hadn't yet had met with the Rockies' team trainer for further evaluation, the right-hander's availability for his next turn through the rotation next weekend in Baltimore is now up in the air. If Marquez requires a stint on the injured list, Triple-A Albuquerque starters Ryan Feltner, Chase Dollander, Tanner Gordon and Carson Palmquist would appear to be the main candidates to replace him in the rotation.

Ober (hip) struck out three over four scoreless frames in his first rehab start with Triple-A St. Paul on Friday.

Ober got his pitch count up to 50 in the outing, with 43 of those offerings going for strikes. Per Dan Hayes of The Athletic, Ober averaged 90.4 mph with his four-seamer, which is a bit below his season average. While it's possible Ober rejoins the Twins' rotation this week, the club might elect to give him one more rehab start to continue building up his pitch count. Ober has been out for all of July with a left hip impingement.

Manoah (elbow) gave up one run on three hits over two innings for Single-A Dunedin on Sunday. He struck out two without walking a batter.

The right-hander tossed 28 pitches (16 strikes) in his second rehab outing as he enters the final stretch of his recovery from an internal brace procedure performed last June. Per Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, Manoah will need at least three more rehab starts before the Blue Jays will consider activating him from the 60-day IL, but at the moment there isn't a spot for him in the big-league rotation, and the team may well have added further depth at the trade deadline before he's ready to return.