MLB Player News

Brown took a no-decision Monday against the Pirates, allowing one run on four hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out seven.

After opening the season exclusively as a multi-inning reliever, Brown has fared well overall in his transition to Chicago's rotation. The 26-year-old right-hander turned in his longest outing of the year Monday, also tying a season high in punchouts. Brown has given up only four runs over his first four starts (19 innings) en route to producing a 2.01 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 47:14 K:BB across 44.2 frames in 2026, and he'll be looking to continue his success as a starter this weekend in St. Louis against the division-rival Cardinals.

Thornton (2-1) allowed a run on two hits in an inning of relief to take the loss Monday against the Pirates.

Thornton served up a solo home run to Henry Davis in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie, and Pittsburgh would hold on for the 2-1 win. The Cubs are spiraling with nine straight losses, but Thornton has been mostly good this year with a 2.79 ERA and 1.03 WHIP across 9.2 innings in eight appearances. The veteran righty should stick in a middle relief role for Chicago with limited fantasy upside at the moment.

Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said Monday that Puk (elbow) will need 7-to-8 rehab appearances before returning from the 60-day injured list, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Puk began his rehab assignment with the team's Arizona Complex League affiliate on Saturday, striking out one over a perfect inning. The left-hander will move up to a higher affiliate and make several more rehab appearances before rejoining the Diamondbacks' bullpen.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Minter (lat) will likely be activated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

It's been a long road back for Minter, who hasn't pitched for the Mets since undergoing left lat surgery last May. Minter produced good results on his rehab assignment, holding a 1.59 ERA and 7:1 K:BB over 11.1 innings. However, the lefty averaged only 92.3 mph with his four-seamer in his final rehab appearance with Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, which is more than two mph down from last year's pace. As such, Minter could be eased into high-leverage situations.

Miller picked up a hold in Sunday's 8-5 win over the White Sox, striking out one in a scoreless inning.

Miller entered in the eighth inning and threw seven of his 11 pitches for strikes, earning his sixth hold on the campaign. The left-hander has recorded three straight scoreless outings since surrendering two runs in his return from a back strain May 16. He now owns a 3.77 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 21:12 K:BB across 14.1 innings in 16 games this season.

Williams (3-2) took the loss Sunday against the Marlins, coughing up four runs on two hits and two walks in one-third of an inning.

With the game tied 0-0, Williams took the mound for the bottom of the ninth and promptly gave up a leadoff double to Christopher Morel. A sacrifice bunt and two walks loaded the bases, and Heriberto Hernandez then got hold of a changeup and crushed it over the center-field fence for a walk-off grand slam. It was just the second long ball Williams has served up in 2026, but both have come on his previously unhittable Airbender -- the right-hander's allowed a .325 batting average and .550 SLG on his changeup this season after giving up a .162 BA and .216 SLG on the pitch just two years ago. Through his first 17 innings as a Met, Williams has a 6.35 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 25:10 K:BB while converting seven of eight save chances.

Fairbanks (2-2) picked up the win Sunday against the Mets, giving up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out one.

The Marlins closer did his part to maintain a 0-0 tie in the top of the ninth, and Fairbanks was rewarded for his efforts when Heriberto Hernandez walked it off with a grand slam. Both of Fairbanks' wins this season have come in four appearances since he was activated from the IL a little over a week ago, but on the season the right-hander has a shaky 7.62 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 20:7 K:BB in 13 innings while converting six of eight save chances.

Poulin will be the Nationals' opening pitcher in Monday's game versus the Guardians, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.

It will be the sixth opener assignment this season for Poulin, who has permitted only one run with a 5:1 K:BB over 6.1 innings in the first five of those outings. Zack Littell is in line for bulk relief duty for the Nationals on Monday.

The Mets outrighted Kimbrel to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.

Kimbrel will presumably elect free agency rather than accept an outright assignment, but he doesn't seem to have officially done that yet. The veteran reliever was booted off the Mets' 40-man roster last week after posting a 6.00 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 15:6 K:BB over 15 innings.

Ribalta earned the save in Sunday's 2-1 win over Atlanta, striking out one batter across two-thirds of an inning.

Gus Varland was given the first crack at earning the save but was replaced by Richard Lovelady after the former gave up two singles to open the ninth inning. Lovelady proceeded to give up a run and issue a walk before Ribalta was called in, and the latter proceeded to retire both batters he faced for his second save of the season. Ribalta is unlikely to see many more save chances, as those opportunities have tended go to Varland, Lovelady or Clayton Beeter.