MLB Player News

The Cubs acquired Gausman from the Blue Jays on Sunday in exchange for infielder Ty Southisene and outfielder Brett Bateman, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Gausman, who is set to become a free agent this winter, will provide an injury-battered Cubs pitching staff with a top-of-rotation arm down the stretch. The right-hander has taken a step back statistically in 2026, but he was still more than serviceable for Toronto with a 4.38 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 127 punchouts over 127.1 innings. Gausman had collected just five wins over his 23 starts, but he should see some improvement in that category with the move from a last-place team in the AL East to a Cubs squad that currently sits 14 games over .500.

Morgan (knee) made a rehab appearance Sunday at Triple-A El Paso, allowing one hit and no walks over an inning of relief.

Morgan kicked off a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League over the All-Star break, but he made just one appearance before being shut down due to soreness in his right trapezius muscle. The right-hander was able to move past the setback quickly and will likely need just a couple more appearances in the minors before he's deemed ready to rejoin the San Diego bullpen. Morgan submitted a 4.50 ERA and 1.77 WHIP over 18 appearances for the Padres before landing on the shelf June 29 due to left knee inflammation.

Musgrove (elbow) is slated to make a rehab appearance for Single-A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2024 and then suffering a setback in the spring when he experienced inflammation in his right elbow, Musgrove finally appears to be closing in on making his first appearance for the Padres in just under two years. Along with Musgrove, Nick Pivetta (forearm) -- who has been on the shelf since April 14 -- is also scheduled to kick off his rehab assignment Tuesday with Lake Elsinore. Given the length of his absence, Musgrove is expected to need most of his 30-day rehab window to get fully stretched out for a spot in the San Diego rotation, so he may not be cleared to return from the 60-day injured list until late August or early September.

Pivetta (forearm) is slated to make a rehab appearance for Single-A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday.

Pivetta has been on the injured list since April 14 due to a right forearm strain, but he's finally reached the last stage of his lengthy recovery process. He won't be the only rehabbing starter slated to pitch for Lake Elsinore on Tuesday, as Joe Musgrove (elbow) is also on track to either start or pitch in relief behind Pivetta. Given the length of his absence, Pivetta would normally require most of his 30-day window to get fully stretched out for a return to the San Diego rotation, but the Padres will give him the chance to streamline his rehab assignment. According to Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune, Pivetta is expected to be activated from the 60-day IL before Aug. 22, when his stay on the shelf would reach 130 days. Per the terms of the four-year contract Pivetta signed in February 2025, if he's deactivated for 130 consecutive days at any point this season or next, his $14 million player option for 2027 and $18 million player option for 2028 would turn into club options.

Petersen (forearm) struck out two batters and allowed no hits and one walk over a scoreless inning of relief en route to claiming his 18th hold of the season in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Mets.

Petersen suffered an injury scare a week ago when he took a line drive off of his right forearm, but he escaped with little more than a bruise and was deemed ready to pitch after a few days of rest. The righty made his return to the mound in Thursday's series opener and was charged with two earned runs across two-thirds of an inning, but he was much sharper Sunday. His 18 holds lead the Marlins, and he lowered his ERA to 3.13 for the season after tossing the scoreless frame.

Lowe went 3-for-4 with two RBI, two doubles, a walk and two runs scored in Sunday's 10-2 win over the Pirates.

With Spencer Steer (wrist) on the injured list, Lowe is tearing the cover off the ball as of late. He's batting .352 over his last 14 games, racking up three homers, four doubles and 12 RBI covering 56 plate appearances during that span. Lowe is enjoying a productive first season overall with the Reds, slashing .266/.341/.480 with 12 long balls, 17 doubles and 37 RBI across 276 trips to the dish.

Wheeler didn't factor into the decision in Sunday's rain-shortened outing against the Orioles. He allowed just one hit while striking out three over two innings.

While it was a brief day for Wheeler, who didn't return after the first rain delay prior to the third inning, it was still an encouraging showing for the right-hander after he gave up five runs on six hits in just three innings against Miami in his last outing. Overall, Wheeler is 10-2 with a 2.49 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 126:23 K:BB through 18 starts (105 innings) this season. He's currently lined up to face the Blue Jays at home his next time out, though the Phillies could potentially deploy Wheeler sooner, as he threw just 32 pitches Sunday.

Basabe exited Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Padres in the ninth inning after being hit by a pitch on his left forearm, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Basabe took a 100.8 mph sinker from southpaw Adrian Morejon off his left arm with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, and he was subsequently replaced at first base by Grant McCray. Basabe said that he expects to be okay, but he can be considered day-to-day for the time being ahead of Monday's series opener against the Rangers.

Rushing was scratched from the lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Red Sox due to minor arm irritation.

Rushing was set to start behind the plate and bat ninth in the series finale, but he was pulled from the lineup just minutes before first pitch. Eliezer Alfonzo will start at catcher in place of Rushing, who can be viewed as day-to-day heading into the Dodgers' next game Monday versus the Cubs.

The Nationals transferred Poulin (forearm) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.

Poulin had been on the shelf since July 19 due to a left flexor strain, and his move to the 60-day IL ensures that he'll remain out through Sept. 13. The southpaw's move to the 60-day frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for one of Yovanny Cruz and Jake Bird, two of the four players the Nationals acquired Sunday in the deal that sent Luis Garcia to the Yankees.