MLB Player News

Mikolas (7-8) allowed six runs on eight hits and struck out two without walking a batter over 5.1 innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Cubs.

Four of the eight hits Mikolas allowed were homers, including two by Pete Crow-Armstrong. Prior to Sunday, Mikolas had allowed just one homer over his last six starts, though this was the fourth time this season he's given up multiple long balls. The veteran right-hander concludes the first half with a 5.13 ERA, which would be his worst in six seasons as a Cardinal, while adding a 1.22 WHIP and 77:18 K:BB through 112.1 innings over 20 starts.

Nido went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Cardinals.

This was Nido's first homer as a Cub after signing with the team June 19. The catcher has hit safely in five of his last seven games, generating three RBI in that span. For the season, he's at a .202/.229/.331 slash line with four homers, 12 RBI, 14 runs scored and four doubles across 133 plate appearances between the Cubs and the Mets.

Happ went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Cardinals.

Happ has enjoyed a productive July so far, going 15-for-46 (.326) with four homers and 13 RBI over 13 games. The outfielder is up to 15 homers, 57 RBI, 53 runs scored, 23 doubles and seven stolen bases while slashing .243/.352/.548 through 92 contests. Happ has maintained his starting role in left field even through cold stretches, so there's little risk of him losing playing time once this hot streak ends.

Crow-Armstrong went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs, a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Cardinals.

Entering Sunday, Crow-Armstrong had just one homer all season. He finally flashed some power by taking Miles Mikolas deep in the third and fifth innings to triple his homer total on the year. Crow-Armstrong has added 17 RBI, 11 runs scored, 16 stolen bases and a .203/.253/.329 slash line over 174 plate appearances. With Cody Bellinger suffering a fractured finger Wednesday, Crow-Armstrong may have a bit more time to make his case to stay in the majors after the All-Star break.

Morel went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Cardinals.

Morel hit a two-run blast in the sixth inning and a solo shot in the eighth to pad the Cubs' lead in the contest. This was his first multi-hit effort since June 22, though he's hit safely in 10 of 12 games in July, batting .229 (11-for-48) for the month. Overall, Morel has 18 long balls, 50 RBI, 42 runs scored and seven stolen bases through 96 contests, though he's slashing a light .202/.303/.387 on the year.

Taillon (7-4) allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out three without walking a batter over 5.2 innings to earn the win Sunday over the Cardinals.

Taillon came an out shy of his seventh straight quality start, but he was still able to capture his third win in a row. He's also given up a home run in six straight starts, as Alec Burleson tagged him for a solo shot in the sixth inning. Taillon is now at a 3.10 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 75:18 K:BB through 93 innings over 16 starts this season.

Walston (elbow) isn't expected to return from the 15-day injured list until sometime in August, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

After turning in a 2.84 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 11:9 K:BB in 12.2 innings through his first three big-league outings (two starts), Walston was placed on the 15-day injured list June 6. His injury was initially classified as left elbow inflammation, but the Diamondbacks have since listed him with a left elbow strain, according to MLB.com. While Walston has resumed throwing off flat ground from 60 to 100 feet, the Diamondbacks haven't yet indicated that he's been cleared for bullpen sessions, so he still looks to be several weeks away from being stretched back out for a starter's workload. All of Jordan Montgomery (knee), Eduardo Rodriguez (lat) and Merrill Kelly (shoulder) are further along in their throwing progressions and appear poised to beat Walston back from the injured list, so the 22-year-old southpaw will most likely be optioned to Triple-A Reno once he's activated.

Myers suffered a fractured left ankle kicking the clubhouse door Saturday and will miss 6-to-8 weeks, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

The righty-hitting outfielder was slashing .265/.337/.422 with two home runs and four steals in 95 plate appearances. Myers had been mostly limited to starts against left-handed pitchers this season, and the injury explains his absence from Sunday's matchup against lefty Nick Lodolo.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Sunday that he feels good about Montgomery's (knee) chances of returning from the 15-day injured list for the first turn through the rotation coming out of the All-Star break, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Montgomery threw a two-inning, 40-pitch simulated bullpen session Friday and apparently responded favorably. Though he won't have the opportunity to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment during the upcoming week due to the All-Star break, the southpaw should be able to push up his pitch count with another simulated game in Arizona. Lovullo didn't specify whether Montgomery was likely to start in the Diamondbacks' first series of the second half next weekend in Arizona or the following series in Kansas City, but the club already opened up a spot in the rotation for the 31-year-old when they optioned Slade Cecconi to Triple-A Reno on Thursday.

Garcia was scratched from Sunday's lineup with a sore left shoulder, but he should be fine when the second half opens Friday at home against the Reds, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Manager Davey Martinez said the training staff looked at Garcia and didn't find anything to be concerned about. Ildemaro Vargas got the nod at the keystone in Garcia's absence.