MLB Player News

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Brown (neck) suffered a setback during his live batting practice session Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Working his way back from a stress reaction in his neck, Brown began feeling discomfort in his neck toward the end of the session, and the pain worsened as the day moved along. He is headed back to Chicago to be evaluated and is "gonna slow it down in some way," per Counsell. Brown hasn't pitched in a game since late June, and he now looks like a long shot to make it back before the end of the season.

The Angels recalled Martin from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.

Martin was claimed off waivers by the Angels earlier this month and will now get a look with the big club. The 25-year-old reliever has logged a 2.79 ERA and 55:27 K:BB over 48.1 innings at the Triple-A level this season, and he's permitted five runs (four earned) with a 7:4 K:BB across 11.1 frames in the majors in 2026.

Garcia (elbow/neck/biceps) underwent thoracic outlet surgery Thursday and will miss the rest of the season, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The right-hander was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome in early August, but it wasn't previously known whether he would require surgery. Garcia was pulled from a minor-league rehab assignment on three different occasions this year, and he'll end up not pitching at the big-league level in 2026. He turned 36 years old last week and will become a free agent after the season. Even if Garcia is physically capable of returning to the mound in 2027, he may not generate significant interest in free agency at this stage of his career while coming off major surgery and a lost season.

The Angels optioned Weiman to Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.

Weiman was scored upon in his last three appearances and had pitched each of the last two days, so he's being sent out in favor of a fresh arm. Trevor Martin was summoned from Triple-A to replace Weiman on the active roster and in the bullpen.

Pivetta (forearm) struck out four and allowed three earned runs on four hits and one walk in three innings Tuesday in a rehab start with Single-A Lake Elsinore.

After a three-week hiatus following a setback with his right forearm, Pivetta resumed his minor-league rehab assignment and made a second start with Lake Elsinore. Though his command was lacking while he allowed three extra-base hits -- including two home runs -- on the night, Pivetta was at least able to pound the strike zone (35 strikes on 47 pitches). Pivetta will need at least one more rehab start to continue building up his pitch count before the Padres consider bringing him back from the 60-day injured list and inserting him into the rotation. The veteran righty has been on the shelf since April 14.

Romano walked one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his 13th save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Nationals.

The veteran right-hander may be turning his career around with the most unlikely of teams. Romano has converted nine of 10 save chances since landing with the Rockies, posting a 2.30 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 15:8 K:BB over 15.2 innings -- a remarkable turnaround after he began 2026 with a 10.13 ERA in eight frames for the Angels.

Phillips didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 7-3 extra-innings loss to the Red Sox, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out seven.

The seven Ks were a season high and tied Phillips' career high, but they also ran up his pitch count and forced an early exit after 84 pitches (55 strikes). The right-hander has given up two earned runs or fewer in eight of his last nine trips to the mound but has lasted longer than five innings only once in that time, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 34:13 K:BB in 36.1 innings. He'll look to earn his first win since Aug. 1 in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road early next week against the Nationals.

Lord struck out two and allowed one walk and no hits over 2.1 innings of relief in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Rockies.

Lord had started in each of his prior three appearances, but he was essentially deployed as an opener for all of those games, working no more than 2.2 innings on any occasions. The Nationals are still lacking a clear No. 5 starter, but Lord's usage in long relief Tuesday suggests that the club is planning on him filling a bullpen role for the time being. Washington will have Matt Waldron open Wednesday's contest in what would have been Lord's spot in the rotation.

Seymour (9-5) took the loss Tuesday, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits over 5.2 innings of relief as the Rays fell 4-1 to the Tigers. He struck out five without walking a batter.

Entering the game in the third inning after opener Casey Legumina had given Tampa Bay seven outs, Seymour didn't pitch poorly but was perhaps catching too much of the plate, tossing 65 of 88 pitches for strikes and hanging a belt-high sweeper in the fifth that Max Clark drove into the right-field seats for a two-run blast. Seymour has gone three straight outings without a win, serving up six homers in 16.2 innings en route to a 4.86 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 22:2 K:BB over that stretch. The southpaw will look to turn things around in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Mets.

Mears (shoulder) was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome Saturday and will undergo season-ending surgery, MLB.com reports.

Mears has been sidelined since May 29 due to a right shoulder impingement and dealt with multiple setbacks during his rehab, including a right lat strain revealed in mid-July. After progressing to mound work, the right-hander experienced renewed discomfort last week, with subsequent testing revealing thoracic outlet syndrome. Mears will finish his injury-marred first season with the Royals having posted a 5.12 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 15:11 K:BB across 19.1 innings.