MLB Player News

The Cubs recalled Assad from Triple-A Iowa ahead of his start Saturday against Miami, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Assad has put up a 3.46 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 83.1 innings in the big leagues this season and has given up four runs in nine innings since being sent down to Triple-A in late August. He'll now return to the majors to pitch against a Marlins offense that's put up a .677 OPS in the last two weeks, and he could stick around in the Cubs' rotation if he delivers another strong performance. Tyler Ferguson was optioned to Iowa in a corresponding move.

The Cubs optioned Ferguson to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Ferguson gave up one run in 1.2 innings during his lone appearance after coming up from Iowa on Tuesday. He'll now head back to the minors to make room for Javier Assad, who was recalled to start Saturday's game against the Marlins.

The Giants optioned Walker to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Walker will lose his place in San Francisco's bullpen to make room for Joel Kuhnel, who was claimed off waivers from Milwaukee on Friday. Walker has struggled to a 7.16 ERA and 1.81 WHIP in 32.2 big-league innings this season and could spend the rest of the year at Triple-A.

Cox went 2-for-2 with two runs scored in Friday's 10-6 loss to the Mets.

Cox entered the game in the seventh inning and immediately hit a leadoff single before coming around to score. He added another base hit in the eighth and scored again. The 25-year-old outfielder has racked up four multi-hit performances over San Francisco's last nine games, batting .391 with seven runs scored, five stolen bases, four RBI and a home run in 27 plate appearances over that stretch. On the campaign, he's slashing .297/.342/.541 with 16 runs scored, 10 RBI, nine stolen bases and four long balls across 82 plate appearances.

Hill went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk in Friday's 10-6 loss to the Mets.

Hill logged a base hit in the fifth inning and added an RBI single in the seventh. The 27-year-old outfielder has recorded at least one hit in four of the last five games, batting .471 with six RBI and four runs scored in 22 plate appearances during that span. Overall, he's slashing .333/.426/.438 with 12 RBI, seven runs scored, five doubles and a stolen base across 61 plate appearances this season.

Bell went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk during a 4-1 loss to the White Sox on Friday.

Bell scored the lone Twins run Friday with a solo shot in the ninth inning off Grant Taylor. The long ball broke a drought of 12 straight games without a blast. Over his last 30 games, Bell is slashing .304/.380/.473 with five homers and 21 RBI in 125 plate appearances.

Vargas went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a strikeout during a 4-1 win over Minnesota on Friday.

Vargas clubbed a solo shot in the first to open the scoring for the White Sox. The 26-year-old is now up to 30 homers, marking the first time he's accomplished that feat in a season, and he reached the 30-homer milestone on the same night as teammate Colson Montgomery. Over 613 plate appearances this season, Vargas has slashed .251/.363/.488 with 77 RBI, 94 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.

Winn (thumb) intends to return from the 10-day injured list for Saturday's game in Colorado, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The Cardinals put Winn through a full pregame workout Friday, and as long as he recovers from that with no issues, he'll be in the lineup for Saturday's contest versus the Rockies. Winn has missed the last two weeks of action with a small fracture in his left thumb.

Montgomery went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a 4-1 win over Minnesota on Friday.

In Montgomery's first at-bat, the 23-year-old clubbed a solo shot off Zebby Matthews to extend Chicago's lead. The switch hitter snapped a 10-game drought without a long ball. On the campaign, Montgomery is slashing .225/.315/.363 with six homers and 36 RBI over 298 plate appearances.

Montgomery went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer and two strikeouts during a 4-1 win over Minnesota on Friday.

Montgomery registered his 30th homer, reaching the milestone for the first time in his young career. The 24-year-old belted a two-run shot off Zebby Matthews in the fourth to extend Chicago's lead to four. For the season, Montgomery has slashed .213/.294/.436 with 191 strikeouts over 562 plate appearances.