MLB Player News

Cavalli (6-4) earned the win Friday over the Athletics, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out nine over six innings. He did not issue a walk.

Cavalli gave up a two-run homer to Tyler Soderstrom in the bottom of the fourth inning, but that would be all the damage he'd allow en route to his fourth quality start in his last five appearances. In that five-game stretch, Cavalli owns a 2.96 ERA and 0.88 WHIP with a 12.2 K/9 across 27.1 innings. He'll aim to keep it going in his next start, scheduled against the Rockies at Coors Field.

Sasaki didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 2-1 win over the Yankees, allowing one unearned run on five hits and one walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander was lifted just short of his fifth quality start of the season after 94 pitches (58 strikes) with the Dodgers down 1-0, but a seventh-inning rally took Sasaki off the hook for the loss. It was an encouraging performance after he'd given up at least three earned runs in his last five starts before the All-Star break, a stretch in which he stumbled to an 8.61 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 20:12 K:BB over 23 innings while serving up nine homers. Sasaki will look to build on this effort in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend against the Mets.

Kelly did not factor into the decision Friday, giving up three runs (one earned) on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks over five innings against St. Louis.

The Cardinals tallied two unearned runs on two hits, a walk and an error during the opening frame, but Kelly then kept St. Louis off the board until JJ Wetherholt's solo homer during the fifth inning. The veteran right-hander was unable to extend his win streak to three games, but he continued a strong run of form with a 2.12 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB across his last 17 innings. Kelly still has a lot of work to do to bring down his 5.20 ERA and 1.49 WHIP for the campaign.

McGreevy did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk over 6.1 innings in a 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks. He struck out five.

McGreevy was unable to pick up a second straight victory since St. Louis didn't score the game-deciding run until the ninth inning, but he delivered a fourth consecutive quality start and now has seven quality starts in his past eight outings. The 27-year-old seems to have found his footing during his first full season as a big-league starter with a 2.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 71:24 K:BB across 108 innings (19 starts).

Roupp (7-8) earned the win Friday, allowing two hits and three walks over seven scoreless innings against the Mariners. He struck out two.

Roupp surrendered just one run over eight innings during his final start before the All-Star break versus Toronto on July 6, and he delivered another strong performance Friday to secure his second straight victory. The right-hander won five of his first six starts of the season and had a 2.55 ERA during that span before stumbling to a 5.77 ERA in his subsequent eight outings, but he's found his footing of late with a quality start in four of his past five appearances. Roupp will take a 3.98 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 106:45 K:BB across 104 frames into his next start, which tentatively lines up to come in Kansas City.

Henderson said after Friday's win over Miami that he was experiencing forearm cramping during the fifth inning, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Henderson was visited on the mound by one of the Brewers' trainers in the fifth but remained in the game to finish the inning and ended his night with one run allowed on three hits and no walks while fanning four batters in five frames. He also said after the game that he was already feeling better, and the team's decision to keep him in the game after the mound visit suggests that he isn't dealing with anything serious. That said, it's still something the team will likely keep an eye on leading up to his next start -- currently lined up to come Wednesday against the Mets.

King allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings in a no-decision Friday against the Royals.

King pitched five efficient innings, allowing just one mistake which resulted in a solo home run off the bat of Lane Thomas in the bottom of the second. The 31-year-old King exited the game with his team leading 2-1 before Xander Bogaerts committed a throwing error to allow the game-tying run to cross the plate in the bottom of the sixth, giving King a no-decision. On the season, King now has a 3.34 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 96:45 K:BB in 113.1 innings.

Sale (10-6) earned the win against the Rangers on Friday, allowing two hits while striking out six across seven scoreless innings. He did not issue a walk.

The veteran southpaw was sharp in Atlanta's first game since the All-Star break. He limited the Rangers to just two hits and retired 13 straight batters from the third to seventh frames, ending his night with 16 whiffs on just 89 total pitches. It was the 11th quality start of the season for Sale, whose 2.06 ERA (across 105 innings) is third best among qualified starters in the majors behind Jacob Misiorowski (1.62) and Cam Schlittler (2.05). Sale is lined up to face the Padres at home next week.

Manager Craig Counsell said Friday that the Cubs expect Cabrera (hamstring) to return from the injured list in the second week of August, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

A left hamstring strain sent Cabrera to the IL on June 24, and he was cleared to start up a throwing program about a week before the All-Star break. He still has several hurdles to clear, but barring any setbacks, he should return to Chicago's rotation in time to contribute toward the team's postseason push.

Manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Taillon (hamstring) will return from the injured list during the Cubs' upcoming series against the Tigers, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

It's still unknown exactly which game of the series Taillon will start, but the Cubs should announce their pitching plans later this weekend. The 34-year-old righty has been on the shelf since June 9 due to a strained left hamstring but was cleared to begin pitching in minor-league games July 5. He gave up just one walk and one hit while striking out three batters in 4.2 shutout innings during his most recent outing at Triple-A Iowa but threw just 53 pitches, so he could have a workload restriction in place while he makes his second-half debut.