MLB Player News

Pena (oblique) isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Athletics.

Pena will sit on the bench for a third straight game since being taken out of Sunday's lineup with a sore left oblique. Carlos Correa will slide over to shortstop to cover for Pena, allowing Ramon Urias to pick up a start at third base.

Patrick did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Padres, allowing two hits and two walks across three scoreless innings. He struck out six.

Patrick was deployed as a pseudo-opener Wednesday, only throwing 57 pitches, though he was certainly effective in the role. In his last four appearances, including two starts, Patrick has allowed just two runs across 9.1 innings while punching out 13. Overall, the rookie right-hander sports a 3.56 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP and 125:39 K:BB across 118.2 innings this season.

Laureano was diagnosed with a fractured finger after his removal from Wednesday's game against the Brewers, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Manager Mike Shildt added that Laureano's injury will keep him sidelined through at least the NL Wild Card Series, and he could remain out if the Padres are able to advance further. The 31-year-old outfielder will finish his best regular-season campaign since 2019 with a .281/.342/.512 slash line to go with 24 homers, 76 RBI, 72 runs scored and seven stolen bases across 441 plate appearances between Baltimore and San Diego.

Uribe earned the save in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Padres, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.

Uribe has been sharp since taking over as Milwaukee's primary closer in Trevor Megill's (elbow) absence. Uribe has gone seven innings without allowing an earned run, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out 10 in that span. Overall, the right-hander has converted six of eight save chances this season while posting a sparkling 1.70 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP and 90 strikeouts across 74.1 innings.

Cease allowed a run on six hits and two walks across five innings in a no-decision Wednesday against the Brewers. He struck out eight.

It was a strong performance from Cease, who held Milwaukee scoreless until Andrew Vaughn's two-out, RBI double in the fifth. Still, Cease only made it through five innings after throwing 100 pitches -- the right-hander only has one quality start in his last eight outings. Cease figures to finish the regular season at 8-12 with a subpar 4.55 ERA and 1.33 WHIP, although he also recorded 215 strikeouts across 32 starts (168 innings).

The Cubs optioned Wicks to the Arizona Complex League on Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

After posting a 7.94 ERA and 1.94 WHIP across 11.1 innings with the big club this season, Wicks will head down to the Cubs' facility in Arizona to stay sharp now that the minor-league season is over. His departure clears room on the active roster for Daniel Palencia's (shoulder) return from the injured list.

The Cubs reinstated Palencia (shoulder) from the injured list Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Palencia has been sidelined since Sept. 8 due to a strained right shoulder, although he pitched in a rehab game Saturday, during which he gave up an unearned run and struck out two batters over two-thirds of an inning. The Cubs will now likely aim to get him a few more big-league appearances before he serves as the team's primary closer during the postseason. Jordan Wicks was optioned to the Arizona Complex League in a corresponding move.

Keaschall was diagnosed with a sprained left thumb and will be out for the rest of the 2025 season, Audra Martin of FanDuel Sports Network North reports.

Keaschall suffered the injury while stealing second base in the second inning of Tuesday's game against the Rangers. He'll see a specialist next week to evaluate the severity of the sprain, but Martin relays that surgery is on the table. Keaschall burst onto the scene following his major-league debut April 18 but was out of action for just over three months due to a fractured right forearm. He'll end the 2025 season with a .302/.382/.445 slash line, 14 steals, 25 runs, 14 doubles, four home runs and 28 RBI over 207 plate appearances.

Freeman is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against the Twins on Wednesday.

Freeman will be on the bench for the beginning of Wednesday's game while Ezequiel Duran starts at second base and bats sixth. Freeman has gone 15-for-62 (.242) with one steal, six runs, two homers and nine RBI since Sept. 1.

Chapman isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Chapman will take a seat for Wednesday's series finale after going 2-for-8 with an RBI and two runs scored over the first two games versus St. Louis. Casey Schmitt will shift over to third base as a result, opening up second for Christian Koss.