MLB Player News

The Cubs activated Boyd (shoulder/knee) from the 15-day injured list Thursday, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Boyd will make his return to the Cubs' rotation Thursday with a start in Queens against the Mets. The left-hander has not started a game at the big-league level since early May, as he's been shelved by meniscus surgery and shoulder soreness. Boyd tossed 59 pitches over four innings in his final rehab start, so his workload will be limited Thursday.

Nunez (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie on Thursday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.

Nunez is less than a year removed from undergoing Tommy John surgery but has already been cleared for game action. Barring any setbacks, the reliever appears in line for his season debut shortly after the All-Star break. Nunez boasts a 2.82 ERA and 59:14 K:BB over 44.2 innings during his time with the Mets.

Cabrera will start Saturday's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

To little surprise, Cabrera will receive a second turn through the rotation after he turned in an impressive MLB debut last Sunday, blanking the Twins over five innings while striking out three and allowing just four baserunners. The 24-year-old righty should have a fair amount of leash in the Arizona rotation after Ryne Nelson (elbow) and Michael Soroka (glute) both recently joined Corbin Burnes (elbow) on the injured list.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Brown has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck and will have limited activity for the next month, 104.3 The Score reports.

Counsell also noted that Brown's injury is "very similar" to the one the pitcher dealt with during the 2024 campaign. That year, Brown was sidelined in early June and wound up not appearing in another game for the remainder of the season. The Cubs will have a better idea as to Brown's timetable in one month, but the right-hander is looking at an extended absence.

Abrams is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Phillies.

With ace left-hander Cristopher Sanchez toeing the rubber for the Phillies, the left-handed-swinging Abrams will begin the festivities on the bench. Nasim Nunez will slide over to shortstop for the Nationals, and Jorbit Vivas is getting a start at second base.

Schwarber (back) will serve as the Phillies' designated hitter and bat second Thursday against the Nationals.

Schwarber missed back-to-back starts while dealing with lower-back tightness, but he was able to enter Wednesday's contest as a pinch hitter and drew a walk during his lone plate appearance. Now healthy enough to start, he'll look to remain hot after slashing .306/.425/.597 with seven homers through 20 games in June.

Chandler (3-7) earned the win Thursday over the Mariners, allowing a run on five hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out four.

It was a strong performance from Chandler, who held the Mariners scoreless for four innings before allowing a lone run in the fifth. The right-hander has now held opponents to two runs or fewer in each of his last four outings, posting a 2.82 ERA across 22.2 innings in that span. Overall, Chandler's ERA sits at 4.42 through 79.1 innings this season with a 1.39 WHIP and 73:46 K:BB. He's currently lined up to face the Phillies on the road his next time out.

The Phillies reinstated Rojas (elbow) from the restricted list Thursday and placed him on the 60-day injured list.

Rojas received an 80-game suspension at the start of the season after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, and he's set to miss the entire 2026 campaign after tearing the UCL in his right elbow while ramping up his activity. He was given a 6-to-8-month recovery timeline after undergoing surgery earlier this month, so he could be ready to go by the time spring training begins next year.

Crooks is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.

The left-handed-hitting Crooks didn't start the previous two days due to Arizona having a lefty on the mound. He's absent from Thursday's lineup because Ivan Herrera has been Michael McGreevy's personal catcher this season. Crooks had started six of seven contests prior to this three-game run with no starts, so it's been an inconsistent stretch of playing time for the rookie catcher.

The Brewers optioned Yoho to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday, Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com reports.

Yoho was lit up for three earned runs during his inning of work Wednesday against the Reds, bringing his ERA up to 6.00 through six innings with the Brewers. He's had much more success in the minors (0.90 ERA through 20 IP), so the team will send him back down to Nashville to get back on track. Jared Koenig (elbow) is expected to return from the injured list ahead of Friday's game against the Cubs to fill the vacant bullpen spot.