MLB Player News

Chourio isn't in Saturday's starting lineup versus Arizona.

It will be Chourio's first game out of the starting lineup since June 3. The star outfielder may just be getting a routine rest day, as there's no word of an injury and he's been hitting well of late, reaching base in nine straight contests and posting an .819 OPS with two homers, four RBI and one steal over that span. With Chourio out of Saturday's lineup, Jake Bauers is getting a start in left field.

Griffin went 1-for-5 with a run scored and two stolen bases in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Nationals.

The rookie shortstop got the Pirates on the board in the top of the first inning by singling, stealing second, advancing to third on a Bryan Reynolds knock and then scampering home as part of a successful double steal. Griffin's been very busy on the basepaths of late, going 5-for-5 on steal attempts over his last five games. On the season, the 20-year-old phenom sports a .271/.326/.403 slash line with five homers, 19 stolen bases, 23 RBI and 34 runs in his first 58 big-league games.

Ashcraft (9-3) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings in a 7-1 victory over the Nationals. He struck out seven.

James Wood led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo shot on Ashcraft's first pitch, but the right-hander shut the door from there and came one out short of his 11th quality start of the season. It was an impressive bounce-back performance after he'd been tagged for three homers and five runs in his previous outing; but despite that damage to his ratios, Ashcraft has won four straight starts. He'll take a 3.24 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 122:25 K:BB through 108.1 innings into his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Brewers.

The Cubs designated Wilson for assignment Saturday.

Wilson joined Chicago as a waiver claim June 24 and made two appearances for the team. In his first outing, he impressed with 4.1 scoreless innings, but the right-hander then got pounded for seven runs across 3.1 frames against St. Louis on Friday. He's now lost his spot in Chicago's bullpen (and on the team's 40-man roster) in favor of Jake Woodford, who was inked to a major-league contract Saturday.

The Cubs signed Woodford to a major-league contract Saturday.

Woodford spent the beginning part of the season with Milwaukee, posting a 6.94 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 20:7 K:BB over 23.1 innings spanning 16 relief appearances before being DFA'd on June 5. Despite those meager numbers, the Cubs have given the veteran hurler a deal that will immediately place him in the big-league bullpen. Bryse Wilson was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

The Rockies placed Halvorsen on the 15-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to July 1, due to right shoulder inflammation.

Halvorsen's most recent call-up to the big club didn't go well, as he yielded four runs on seven hits with a 1:1 K:BB over 2.2 innings spanning three appearances. He'll now be sidelined at least through the All-Star break because of a shoulder issue. Starter Tomoyuki Sugano (back) also landed on the IL on Saturday, while Sean Sullivan was called up from Albuquerque and veteran reliever Jordan Romano had his contract selected from the same Triple-A club.

The Rockies selected Romano's contract from Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday.

Romano inked a minor-league contract with Colorado in early May and has since been throwing for Albuquerque. Over nine appearances with the Triple-A club, he posted a 4.15 ERA, 0.61 WHIP and 10:0 K:BB with one save over 8.2 innings. Though Romano struggled to a 10.13 ERA and 2.12 WHIP at the outset of the season while with the Angels, he did log four saves (in six chances) and has registered 117 career regular-season saves in MLB. As such, he could get an opportunity to finish games for a Colorado bullpen that doesn't currently have a clear-cut closer.

Colorado placed Sugano (back) on the 15-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to July 1.

Sugano was slated to pitch Saturday after having a few extra days to deal with a finger injury. While that issue appears to be in the rearview mirror, the right-handed hurler recently developed back spasms that are serious enough to result in a stint on the IL. Sean Sullivan was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday to replace Sugano in the rotation.

Alderman sports a .286/.375/.486 slash line over his last 10 games for Triple-A Jacksonville with two home runs, one steal, eight runs and eight RBI.

The 23-year-old outfield prospect missed about a month of action after suffering a wrist injury in mid-May, but Alderman returned to the lineup for the Jumbo Shrimp on June 16. After striking out eight times in 13 plate appearances during his first three games back, he's quickly regained his form. Alderman has mainly played right field this season while seeing some action in left field and at first base as well, and a big-league debut in the second half remains possible if he keeps his strikeouts in check.

The Rockies recalled Sullivan from Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday.

Sullivan was optioned to Albuquerque on Tuesday, but he's right back up with the big-league club to make a start in place of Tomoyuki Sugano, who was placed on the 15-day IL due to back spasms. Sullivan has struggled during his time with the big-league club this season, recording an 8.64 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 12:9 K:BB over 16.2 innings spanning four starts. However, Colorado doesn't have many other rotation options to turn to, so Sullivan could remain in a starting role beyond Saturday while Sugano recovers.