MLB Player News

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Taillon (back) will start Tuesday's game in Atlanta, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

A bout with back stiffness resulted in Taillon being scratched from his scheduled start Friday in Pittsburgh, but the right-hander responded well enough from a bullpen session Saturday for the Cubs to clear him to take the hill in Atlanta. With Kyle Hendricks (back) coming off the 15-day injured list to start Sunday in Pittsburgh, Taillon will end up taking over the spot in the rotation that had previously belonged to Hayden Wesneski, who has been moved to the bullpen.

The Cubs reinstated Hendricks (back) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start Sunday in Pittsburgh, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The Cubs initially planned to have Hendricks make the third start of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, but he'll end up returning from the IL earlier than expected after rotation mate Jameson Taillon (back) wasn't available to start this weekend. Hendricks struck out 13 and allowed just three walks while giving up three runs over 9.1 innings between his two rehab outings, but he struggled mightily over his first five starts with the Cubs before landing on the shelf (0-3 record, 12.00 ERA, 2.10 WHIP in 21 innings).

Manager Bud Black said Saturday that Freeland (elbow) is "a week or 10 days away from getting on the mound," MLB.com reports.

Freeland played catch Thursday, Friday and Saturday and seems to have responded well to the workouts, but the Rockies aren't yet ready to have him advance to the next phase of his rehab program for his strained left elbow. While Freeland might join the Rockies for their upcoming road trip that begins Monday, the veteran southpaw will still be limited to playing catch and doesn't yet appear to be close to a return from the 15-day injured list. Given that he'll still need to complete a minor-league rehab assignment after he resumes throwing off a mound and facing hitters, Freeland doesn't look like he'll be an option for Colorado's rotation until around mid-June.

Waldron (1-5) was tagged with the loss against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks over 5.1 innings while striking out six.

Waldron coughed up a solo home run to Freddie Freeman in the top of the first and was later charged with another run in the sixth after having to be relieved by Adrian Morejon with one out in the frame. The right-handed Waldron threw only 11 of 20 first pitches for strikes in the contest en route to taking his third consecutive loss. Waldron has now allowed a home run in each of his last five starts, going 1-4 over that stretch with a 19:9 K:BB.

Paxton (5-0) earned the win over the Padres on Saturday, pitching six shutout innings while allowing four hits and striking out four.

Paxton never found himself in any serious trouble throughout the contest, allowing only one extra-base hit as the Dodgers cruised to a shutout win. The veteran lefty threw 15 of 22 first pitches for strikes and produced 10 whiffs on the night en route to earning his fifth win of the campaign. Paxton has allowed one run or fewer in back-to-back starts and in four of his seven outings this season. Saturday also marked his first start this season in which he didn't issue a walk.

Skenes came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 10-9 win over the Cubs, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks over four-plus innings. He struck out seven.

The 21-year-old right-hander displayed some nerves in his big-league debut, throwing only 54 of 84 pitches for strikes, but he flashed his upside right out of the gate by hitting triple digits on the radar gun on his first two career pitches and reaching 100 mph on five fastballs in total against the first batter he faced, eventually striking out Chicago leadoff man Mike Tauchman on a 100.9 mph four-seamer. Skenes isn't heading back to the minors any time soon, and his next start should come on the road next week in a rematch with the Cubs.

Steele escaped with a no-decision in Saturday's 10-9 loss to the Pirates, surrendering six runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over four innings. He struck out three.

Making just his third start of the season after missing all of April with a hamstring strain, Steele served up homers to Connor Joe and Oneil Cruz in the third inning and Michael Taylor in the fourth, but he got taken off the hook for the loss thanks to a seven-run fifth by the Cubs. Steele has yet to complete five innings in an outing and threw just 74 pitches (53 strikes) Saturday, but he should begin to get stretched out more as he puts the injury further behind him. Steele will take a 4.73 ERA and 11:4 K:BB through 13.1 innings into his next start, which lines up to be a rematch with the Pirates back in Wrigley Field next week.

Nelson came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Orioles, giving up three runs on 10 hits over 4.2 innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

Half of the hits off Nelson went for extra bases, including a pair of doubles plus a triple by Ryan Mountcastle and a solo homer by Gunnar Henderson. Nelson has lasted past five innings only once in six starts this season, and he'll carry a 5.33 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB through 25.1 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Tigers.

Feltner allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four over six innings in a no-decision versus the Rangers on Saturday.

Feltner ran into some trouble in the fifth inning but otherwise had a respectable outing for his third quality start of the season. He's still winless over his last five outings, but he was able to avoid giving up a home run -- Feltner has yet to yield a long ball at home in three Coors Field starts in 2024. Overall, he's at a 5.20 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 40:12 K:BB through 45 innings over eight starts this season. The right-hander is tentatively projected to make his next start on the road at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park in San Francisco.

Gibson allowed two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out seven over five-plus innings in a no-decision versus the Brewers on Saturday.

Gibson also hit a batter, which forced in the Brewers' first run of the game. The wildness brought an end to his four-start run of quality starts, as he threw just 55 of 104 pitches for strikes Saturday. Gibson is at a 3.67 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 40:20 K:BB through 49 innings across eight starts this season. He had a 2.6 BB/9 in each of the previous two seasons, but it's now at 3.7 in 2024. While that hasn't led to more damage in the runs column, it's a dangerous trend for a 36-year-old whose best trait is his ability to eat innings. Gibson is projected to make his next start at home versus the Red Sox.