MLB Player News

The Cubs activated Tucker (calf) from the 10-day injured list Friday.

Tucker has finally been cleared to return to action after missing most of September with a strained left calf. He will start in the designated hitter spot and bat cleanup during Friday's series opener against the Cardinals. Tucker could see regular starts at DH this weekend and during next week's National League Wild Card Series as the Cubs look to protect his calf.

Winn's surgery to repair a torn right meniscus was successful, and he's expected to be a full-go in time for spring training, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The 23-year-old shortstop expects to be 100 percent by January. Winn played through the injury for several months before being shut down in mid-September. He slashed .253/.310/.363 with nine home runs and nine stolen bases across 537 plate appearances in 2025.

Horton (ribs) threw in the outfield Friday and the Cubs expect him to be ready to pitch during next week's National League Wild Card Series versus the Padres, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Horton underwent an MRI after exiting his last outing due to back tightness, and the imaging revealed an area of concern in his ribcage area. However, while the rookie right-hander does not appear to be 100 percent, the plan is to give him the ball against the Padres, likely in Game 1. Horton finished his first major-league season with a 2.67 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 97:33 K:BB over 118 innings.

Donovan is expected to play only in an emergency during the Cardinals' final series of the season against the Cubs, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports

Donovan is banged up, tending to general soreness and a groin injury. Now that the Cardinals are eliminated from the postseason, the club has no incentive to put him on the lineup card over the final few games. While Donovan is idle, look for Nolan Gorman or Jose Fermin to handle second base duties. Donovan will likely end the season with a .287/.353/.422 slash line, 10 home runs, 50 RBI and 64 runs in 515 plate appearances.

The Cubs optioned Santana to the Arizona Complex League on Friday, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Santana had to agree to the option, and he will be part of the Cubs' taxi squad during next week's National League Wild Card Series against the Padres. The veteran first baseman has gone 2-for-19 at the plate since signing with Chicago at the end of August.

Donovan is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.

Donovan has been battling general soreness and a minor groin injury this week, and he'll get the day off Friday to rest. In his place, Nolan Gorman will bat fifth and play second base.

Tucker (calf) will be activated from the 10-day injured list and included in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Tucker has been cleared to return after missing the last three-plus weeks with a left calf strain. It's not clear whether he will play the outfield or be used at designated hitter, but either way the Cubs will be happy to get Tucker's bat back into their lineup.

Perales averaged 98.6 mph and touched 99.8 mph with his four-seam fastball in his most recent appearance for Triple-A Worcester on Sept. 20.

Perales, who underwent Tommy John surgery in July of 2024, logged a total of 2.1 innings across Double-A and Triple-A, with his first appearance coming Sept. 13. His numbers aren't pretty in this tiny sample (7.71 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 4:3 K:BB), but Perales' stuff is all the way back and then some, with his fastball not only offering premium velocity but elite movement. He leans heavily on his nasty 90-mph cutter and also mixes in a mid-80s slider, so it's a power arsenal in a small package -- Perales is listed at 6-foot-1, 160 pounds. He only has 8.1 career innings at Double-A and 1.1 innings at Triple-A, so it's unclear which of the upper-minors levels Perales will be assigned to in 2026, but on pure upside, he's right there with any pitcher who has yet to reach the majors.

Mountcastle went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two total RBI and an additional run scored in Thursday's 6-5 win over Tampa Bay.

Mountcastle got Baltimore on the board in the third inning with his seventh homer of the year, a two-out, opposite-field blast off Jesse Scholtens, before driving in a second run with another two-out base hit in the fifth. It's the first multi-hit game since Sep. 2 for Mountcastle -- he'd gone 8-for-51 (.157) in 13 contests coming into Thursday. Overall, he's slashing .253/.289/.372 with 35 RBI and 34 runs scored across 353 plate appearances this season.

Varsho went 2-for-4 with a grand slam in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Red Sox.

Varsho provided a majority of the game's offense, crushing a 371-foot shot off Justin Wilson in the sixth inning to put Toronto ahead for good. The homer was the outfielder's 20th of the season and his fifth in September, marking the third time in the last four years he's reached the 20-homer mark. The 29-year-old is up to a .237/.286/.559 slash line with 12 doubles, 55 RBI and 40 runs across 259 plate appearances.