MLB Player News

Ohtani is not in the lineup Thursday versus the Cardinals due to knee and biceps discomfort.

After Wednesday's 8-6 loss to the Cardinals, manager Dave Roberts made it sound likely that Ohtani could get the day off Thursday, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com. Ohtani appeared to show some physical discomfort in his four-strikeout performance Wednesday as he continues to deal with soreness in his left knee and right biceps. It remains to be seen how many games the superstar may rest until he rejoins the lineup. The lingering injuries also leave him without a clear timeline to resume pitching -- he hasn't taken the mound for the Dodgers since July 3. As for Thursday, Tommy Edman is batting leadoff while Alex Call is starting as the designated hitter.

Manager Craig Counsell said that Webb (forearm) is experiencing soreness Thursday but is expected to avoid a stint on the injured list, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Webb took a 102.5-mph line drive off of his right arm in Wednesday's 9-5 loss to the Brewers. The Cubs will be cautious with the right-hander over the next few days, but he is not dealing with much beyond the soreness after X-rays came back negative.

Caissie isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.

Caissie has posted just a .492 OPS in 62 plate appearances since returning from the injured list at the start of August, and he'll now move to the bench for the fourth time in five days. Heriberto Hernandez, Jakob Marsee and Griffin Conine will form Miami's outfield trio while Caissie sits.

The Giants transferred Winn (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Brett Harris, who was claimed off waivers. Winn is now officially out for the season due to right elbow neuritis, which sent him to the IL on Aug. 20. He closes the 2026 season with one save, 14 holds and a 3.35 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 33:17 K:BB across 43 innings.

The Giants claimed Harris off waivers from the Red Sox on Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento.

Harris has managed just a .192/.307/.286 batting line across 74 games covering parts of three big-league seasons. The 28-year-old has been a steady performer in the minors, though, slashing .284/.382/.451, and he can handle first base, third base and second base defensively.

Brown (neck) has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Brown has been out since June with a stress reaction in his neck, and he had been cleared to face live hitters before suffering a setback last week. Now set to remain out for the rest of the season, he'll close the book on what seemed to be a promising 2026 campaign in which he posted a 1.85 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with a 65:19 K:BB over 68 innings.

Ramirez (back) will start at second base and bat seventh in Thursday's contest versus the Brewers.

Ramirez didn't see any action in the first three games of the series as he battled back spasms, but he's in there for the finale. The 22-year-old rookie should see the lion's share of playing time at second base down the stretch for the Cubs, though Matt Shaw also figures to be worked into the mix at the keystone.

Tidwell (0-2) took the loss Thursday against Pittsburgh, allowing two runs on two hits and five walks over five innings. He struck out five.

Tidwell struggled with his command Thursday, throwing just 49 of his 95 pitches for strikes while issuing five walks, matching a season high. The 25-year-old Tidwell has dropped back-to-back starts while giving up 14 runs over 20 frames in his last four outings. Overall, his ERA sits at 4.43 across 42.2 innings this season with a 1.24 WHIP and 36:18 K:BB. Tidwell's currently in line to face the Cardinals at home his next time out.

Montgomery earned the save in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Giants, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

Montgomery has now converted eight straight save chances while allowing just two runs over his last 26 innings. The southpaw looks to have tightened his grip on the ninth-inning job in Pittsburgh, as he's lowered his ERA to 2.97 with a 1.06 WHIP and 90:22 K:BB across 57.2 innings this season.

Frelick is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Cubs.

It's the third straight day Frelick has been out of the lineup, but this is the first of those that comes when the opposition is starting a righty. The Brewers will go with Jake Bauers in right field and Andrew Vaughn at first base in the series finale.