MLB Player News

The Cubs signed Fleming to a minor-league contract Monday, Lance Brozdowski of the Marquee Sports Network reports.

Fleming made one relief appearance for the Blue Jays earlier this season and held a 3.08 ERA and 51:11 K:BB over 64.1 frames with Triple-A Buffalo. He was released Sunday after exercising an opt-out clause in his minor-league deal. The Cubs' pitching staff has been decimated by injuries, so Fleming could get an opportunity with the big club sooner rather than later.

Sanchez (10-4) took the loss against the Royals on Monday, allowing nine runs on 12 hits and one walk while striking out one batter across 3.1 innings.

Sanchez entered Monday's start with a 2.00 ERA, which was second-best in the majors behind Jacob Misiorowski (1.47). However, Sanchez was not his usual self in Kansas City, putting his team in a huge hole by giving up six runs in the first inning, capped off by a three-run homer by Luke Maile. Sanchez proceeded to give up one run in each of the next three frames before exiting in the fourth after giving up a career-high nine runs. The 29-year-old southpaw now sits at a 2.62 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 137:24 K:BB across 120.1 innings this season. Sanchez's next start is slated for this weekend on the road against the Tigers, which will be his last turn in the rotation before the All-Star break.

Waldrep is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh, Lindsay Crosby of BravesToday.com reports.

Waldrep made his 2026 debut for Atlanta out of the bullpen before entering the rotation last week when Bryce Elder's turn was skipped. Though he fell just shy of the benchmarks for a quality start after allowing three earned runs over 5.1 innings last Thursday against the Cardinals, Waldrep will end up sticking around in the rotation while Elder slots back in as a replacement for the injured Martin Perez (forearm). Waldrep tentatively lines up for a two-start week, with his second outing expected to come Sunday in a rematch with the Cardinals on the road.

Manager Oliver Marmol confirmed that Dobbins will be recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday to start one game of the Cardinals' doubleheader with the Brewers in St. Louis, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The doubleheader will force the Cardinals to temporarily expand their rotation to six men, so Dobbins is expected to make just one start before St. Louis presumably sends him back to the minors following the twin bill. The 26-year-old righty has previously made four appearances (two starts) for the Cardinals this season, going 0-1 while turning in a 3.63 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 19:7 K:BB over 17.1 innings.

Williams (elbow) is slated to make his third rehab start Wednesday at Triple-A Rochester, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

After recording just two outs and yielding four runs (two earned) in his first rehab appearance June 28 with Single-A Fredericksburg, Williams bounced back nicely in his second minor-league outing Friday with Double-A Harrisburg. In that start, Williams struck out two batters and allowed just one hit and no walks over 2.1 scoreless innings. He'll look to get further stretched out Wednesday and is likely to need at least one more start in the minors following the All-Star break before the Nationals consider bringing him back from the 60-day injured list. The Nationals have gotten respectable results lately from Zack Littell, Miles Mikolas and Andrew Alvarez at the back end of the rotation, so it's unclear if the team will be willing to open up a starting role for Williams once he's ready for activation.

Irvin (shoulder) is slated to face live hitters in batting practice Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

If all goes well during Irvin's upcoming throwing session, he could be cleared to head out on a rehab assignment coming out of the All-Star break. Irvin has been shelved since May 24 due to a right shoulder strain and will likely require multiple starts in the minors to build up his pitch count before re-entering the Washington rotation.

Julien is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers.

Though he'll head to the bench for the second time in three games while the Rockies face off against another lefty starter (Eric Lauer), the left-handed-hitting Julien appears to have earned himself a regular spot in the lineup versus righties. Over his last six games, Julien has reached base at a .481 clip while recording five hits, eight walks and nine runs and two RBI.

Moniak is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers.

The Rockies will send the left-handed-hitting Moniak to the bench while southpaw Eric Lauer toes the rubber for the Dodgers. With Moniak out of the lineup, the Rockies will go with Troy Johnston in the designated-hitter and Jake McCarthy, Cole Carrigg and Tyler Freeman as their starting outfield trio.

May will be held to around 65 pitches during Monday's start against the Brewers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

May made a quick recovery from a right ankle injury that forced him from last Thursday's start in Atlanta. However, the right-hander will be pitching on three days' rest Monday, and he has not thrown more than 44 pitches in a start in three weeks. The Cardinals will be cautious with May versus the Brewers, but assuming he comes out of Monday's outing with no setbacks, May should be ready for a normal workload this weekend against Atlanta.

Vientos is out of the lineup for Monday's game against Atlanta.

Vientos was included in the lineup both of the previous two days when Atlanta sent left-handed starters to the bump, but he'll be on the bench for a fourth consecutive matchup with a right-handed starting pitcher (Reynaldo Lopez). Rather than moving Vientos out of his short-side platoon role and giving him a look as their primary designated hitter, Mets interim Andy Green has opted to rotate a number of players at that spot in the lineup.