MLB Player News

Griffin went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, two additional RBI and a steal in Friday's win over Milwaukee.

Griffin, who turned 20 years old Friday, bookended the scoring with his first big-league homer during the third inning and a two-run single in the eighth. The long ball ended an 0-for-11 skid, while the three-hit game is also the first of his MLB career. Griffin has yet to find his footing through his first 20 big-league games with a .214/.273/.314 slash line and 28.6 percent strikeout rate, but he's shown flashes of his upside and should continue to get an extended look after inking a nine-year, $140 million extension earlier this month.

The Nationals optioned Cornelio to Triple-A Rochester after Friday's game against the White Sox.

Cornelio made his MLB debut Friday against the Pale Hose, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and four walks while striking out one batter over two innings. He'll now be sent back to the minors but could return to Washington later in the year to make a spot start or provide length out of the bullpen.

Skenes (4-1) earned the win Friday against the Brewers, striking out seven and allowing one hit and no walks over seven scoreless innings.

Skenes carried a perfect game into the seventh inning, but Jake Bauers' two-out single ended that bid and prompted manager Don Kelly to go to the bullpen after the completion of the frame. Despite completely shutting down Milwaukee's offense, it still wasn't the right-hander's most dominant performance, as he generated just 10 whiffs on 93 total pitches. After surrendering five runs over two-thirds of an inning Opening Day, Skenes has responded with a 0.95 ERA, 0.53 WHIP and 29:5 K:BB across 28.1 frames in his past five starts.

Pallante (2-2) allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out eight over 5.1 innings to take the loss versus the Mariners on Friday.

Pallante had a fine performance, but the solo home run he gave up to Josh Naylor in the sixth inning ended up being the difference. The eight strikeouts were a season high for Pallante, but he's also walked at least three batters in four of his five starts, and he's yet to complete six frames in any outing this year. That puts him at a 4.26 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 20:14 K:BB through 25.1 innings. If Pallante keeps limiting damage, he's a fine back-end starter, but that will be tough to do if the walk rate remains at a lofty 5.0 BB/9. The right-hander's next start is projected to be on the road in Pittsburgh.

The Cubs designated Kingery for assignment Friday.

Kingery won a spot on the Cubs' bench out of spring training but has since appeared in just eight games while going 1-for-4 at the plate and tallying two runs and a steal. He'll be pushed off the active roster in favor of Nicky Lopez, whose contract was selected from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The Cubs selected Velasquez's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Friday.

Velasquez signed a minors deal with Chicago in the offseason and has since posted a 3.71 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 17 innings at Iowa. The 33-year-old will now return to the majors for the first time since 2023 to round out the Cubs' bullpen following Caleb Thielbar's (hamstring) move to the injured list.

The Cubs placed Thielbar on the 15-day injured list Friday with a left hamstring strain.

Thielbar had to come out of Thursday's game against the Phillies early after suffering an injury on the mound, and he'll now be forced to sit out at least another 15 days. The 39-year-old had been serving as Chicago's closer with Daniel Palencia (oblique) on the injured list, but that responsibility could be passed on to Ben Brown for the time being. Vince Velasquez was selected from Triple-A Iowa to fill the open spot in the Cubs' bullpen.

The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Hodge will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery Tuesday, so the Cubs will stash him away on the 60-day IL and give his 40-man roster spot to Nicky Lopez.

The Cubs selected Lopez's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The Cubs acquired Lopez in a trade with Colorado on Thursday, and they'll now bring him up to provide depth to their infield unit. The 31-year-old appeared in 14 games for Chicago last season but logged just one hit in 18 at-bats. Porter Hodge (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.

Suarez was scratched from the lineup for Friday's game against the Tigers due to mid-back pain, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

It's unclear how severe Suarez's injury is, but it will prevent him from serving as Cincinnati's designated hitter in Friday's series opener. Nathaniel Lowe will replace him in the starting nine and bat sixth.