MLB Player News

Brown (neck) has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Brown has been out since June with a stress reaction in his neck, and he had been cleared to face live hitters before suffering a setback last week. Now set to remain out for the rest of the season, he'll close the book on what seemed to be a promising 2026 campaign in which he posted a 1.85 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with a 65:19 K:BB over 68 innings.

Ramirez (back) will start at second base and bat seventh in Thursday's contest versus the Brewers.

Ramirez didn't see any action in the first three games of the series as he battled back spasms, but he's in there for the finale. The 22-year-old rookie should see the lion's share of playing time at second base down the stretch for the Cubs, though Matt Shaw also figures to be worked into the mix at the keystone.

Tidwell (0-2) took the loss Thursday against Pittsburgh, allowing two runs on two hits and five walks over five innings. He struck out five.

Tidwell struggled with his command Thursday, throwing just 49 of his 95 pitches for strikes while issuing five walks, matching a season high. The 25-year-old Tidwell has dropped back-to-back starts while giving up 14 runs over 20 frames in his last four outings. Overall, his ERA sits at 4.43 across 42.2 innings this season with a 1.24 WHIP and 36:18 K:BB. Tidwell's currently in line to face the Cardinals at home his next time out.

Montgomery earned the save in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Giants, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

Montgomery has now converted eight straight save chances while allowing just two runs over his last 26 innings. The southpaw looks to have tightened his grip on the ninth-inning job in Pittsburgh, as he's lowered his ERA to 2.97 with a 1.06 WHIP and 90:22 K:BB across 57.2 innings this season.

Frelick is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Cubs.

It's the third straight day Frelick has been out of the lineup, but this is the first of those that comes when the opposition is starting a righty. The Brewers will go with Jake Bauers in right field and Andrew Vaughn at first base in the series finale.

Pratt is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Cubs.

Pratt manned shortstop in the first three games of the series, but he'll take a seat in the finale. Joey Ortiz will fill in at shortstop for the Brewers, while David Hamilton will cover third base.

Loftin isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Marlins.

Loftin has recorded a base hit in eight of his last nine games, but the Royals will give him a breather during Thursday's series finale. Josh Rojas will step in to start at third base and bat seventh.

Holliday is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Red Sox.

The lefty-swinging Holliday has a .699 OPS against lefties and a .675 OPS versus righties in 2026, but this will be his second straight time sitting out when the opposition has sent a southpaw (in this case, Jake Bennett) to the bump. Blaze Alexander will play second base in Holliday's stead.

Basallo is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Red Sox.

The left-handed-hitting Basallo has just a .466 OPS versus lefty hurlers this season, so he'll exit the lineup as the Red Sox send southpaw Jake Bennett to the bump. Carlos Narvaez will do the catching for the Orioles in the series opener.

Rafaela (quad) isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Rafaela was pulled from Wednesday's game in the seventh inning due to quad tightness, and he'll need at least a day to recover before making his return to the starting nine. His absence will allow Eli White to start in center field and bat eighth Thursday.